BEFORE SHE SEES TOMORROW - PROLOGUE

In the deepest recesses of Hell, a gathering of demons formed in a dimly lit cave. The cold, black walls and floor were but a reflection of the dark and sinister schemes being discussed. Whispering amongst themselves, their voices full of hatred and greed, they discussed Lucifer’s leadership. Many felt he had grown complacent and was not as powerful as he had been in millennia long past. Marduk, Satan’s advisor, stood before the group, encouraging the dissension.

“Lucifer is no longer as strong as he once was. He has grown complacent. It is time. Time for us to rise up and seize control of the underworld,” he said. “I have learned much over these past centuries, and I believe that if we get enough demons to join our cause, he can be overthrown.”

“Yes,” his fellow demons cried out in unison. 

“And you shall lead us,” Belphegor said, turning to the group. “Hail Marduk,” he cried out, raising his hand in the air. “Hail Marduk.”

“Hail Marduk,” they chanted.

“Quiet,” Marduk said. “I thank you all for your support, but we must be careful. We do not yet have the numbers to overthrow Lucifer. We must be careful—and quiet.”

As the demons continued their machinations, Marduk stood quietly watching them. This is good, he thought.

Suddenly, he stiffened, hearing a voice inside of his mind.

“Marduk,” the voice thundered. “Come to me.”

“I must go,” Marduk interrupted his cohorts. “Lucifer beckons me.”

“You don’t think he suspects, do you?” Astarte asked.

“No,” Marduk reassured her. “He can only enter our minds to speak, not to listen.”

Pressing his way through the group, Marduk left to see his master.

“Go now,” he said as he walked away. “Go about your duties and consider the things we have discussed. We will meet again soon.”

***

Marduk entered the freezing hall, his breath turning to visible steam in the frigid air. The mist curled around his deeply scarred blue face, revealing the jagged horns that protruded from his skull. Icicles hung from the ceiling like silver daggers. As he approached the throne, the distant screams of tortured souls sent a chill down his spine. Despite millennia in Hell, and his imposing stature and strength, standing well over six feet tall with the power to crush a man with one hand, the sound always unnerved him. He shrugged off the chill and stopped before Lucifer’s throne, bowing low.

Befitting the king of Hell, the throne was impressive. Ebony in color, it rested high on a pedestal, its hand rests were formed from the skulls of lost souls, and its high, arched back was adorned with a blackened skull wearing a jagged crown. Still, it was not the throne that captured Marduk’s attention, but the ring that rested on his master’s left hand. In all his time in the underworld, he had never seen Lucifer without it. On the few occasions he had asked Lucifer about the ring, his inquiries had gone without response. 

However, he had recently discovered his master’s secret vault, which served as a repository for all the knowledge of the underworld. Aware he was risking destruction by even entering the vault, his curiosity and ambition overpowered any reticence or instincts of self-preservation he might possess. There, through diligent and covert research, he had learned much about the ring and its powers. 

“My lord,” he said. “You summoned me?”

“Marduk, my friend,” Lucifer replied. “Please stand.”

Marduk straightened up and looked at his master. Lucifer’s eyes glowed red against his dark gray skin and ebony horns. Unlike Marduk’s vertical horns, Lucifer’s curved upwards like a ram’s, extending high above his head and curving slowly towards his shoulders.

“We have a problem,” Lucifer began, producing a vellum scroll and handing it to Marduk. He watched closely, stroking his black goatee, as Marduk read from the parchment.

“Is this supposed to scare me?” Marduk growled, throwing the scroll to the ground.

“It should,” Lucifer replied. “Those prophecies have a nasty tendency of coming true.”

Pointing his finger at the scroll, Lucifer summoned it back into his hand.

“And it will come to pass,” he read aloud the words Marduk had dismissed so casually. “…that in the latter half of the twentieth century, a human girl of angelic origin will rise up and bring about the destruction of Marduk; he who lies in wait; the ambusher, the destroyer of truth.”

Marduk waved his hand dismissively. “There are no humans of angelic origin. That prophecy is idiotic.”

“Who are we to know if God hasn’t planted angelic seed into humans? He has done many things we weren’t expecting since he created Earth and populated it.”

“Everything except allow us to inhabit his little project,” Marduk sneered.

“I also seem to recall a certain demon under your control who laid with a human during a possession many years ago. Have you forgotten that?”

“And nothing came of that,” Marduk countered.

“That we know of,” Lucifer said. “And have we been cast out so long that you forget we, too, were once angels?”

“No, I haven’t, but I still think the prophecy is ridiculous.”  

“Marduk,” Lucifer warned. “You are my friend and closest advisor, but you are also my servant. Do not forget your place.”

“I apologize, Master, but seriously, how could a human girl possibly hurt me?”

“I don’t know. That is why I have called you here. I am making this your responsibility,” Lucifer stated.

“You don’t think I have better things to do?” Marduk questioned.

“This prophecy concerns you and cannot be allowed to happen. I want you to handle it. Who better to task with this responsibility than the one who would be most affected by it? Find the girl and deal with her accordingly. Either recruit her or eliminate her.”

“Recruit her?”

“A human with enough power to destroy you could be useful, but only if they are on our side. If not, they are a threat.”

“How am I supposed to locate her?”

“I have given you an army of demons—use them. Figure it out. Just get it done.” Lucifer’s voice boomed, causing icicles to fall from the ceiling and shatter upon impact with the floor. He got up from his throne and approached Marduk, handing him the vellum scroll. 

“Read the rest of the prophecy; it will give you some clues to narrow your search.” After a brief pause, Lucifer continued. “And Marduk, I am counting on you to take care of this. Do not let me down. There are others who would be more than happy to see you fail and take your place by my side.”

“You are suggesting you would allow that?” Marduk asked incredulously.

“Don’t get too cocky, my friend. I have trained you and taught you many things. And while I have no desire to train another, you are replaceable.”

“Yes, Master.” As are you, Marduk thought. 

“Also, I am well aware of your recent penchant for seeking forbidden knowledge here in the underworld…”

“What do you mean?” Marduk said, shaking his head.

“You know what I mean,” Lucifer replied. “I’ve turned a blind eye because we are friends. But show me that your efforts have yielded something helpful for this task, and I will continue to overlook your forbidden pursuits.” Lucifer turned from Marduk and left the room, leaving Marduk alone with his thoughts. Frustrated, confused, angry, and perhaps a little guilty, the thoughts in his mind competed for attention. Lucifer knows I’ve been in his vault of knowledge. Does he know how much I have learned? Does he know it is only a matter of time before I know enough to overthrow him and rule Hell in his stead?  

Marduk shook his head, clearing his thoughts, and sat at the long table in the center of the hall. Unrolling the scroll which Lucifer had given to him, he again read the prophecy inscribed on it. As he finished reading, he realized he would need assistance from his minions. Using the clues found in the prophecy, he enlisted them to scour every corner of the globe in search of the one who would destroy him. It took over a decade, but eventually, she was found and Marduk’s mission was set in motion.

***

Lilitu and Marduk lay on the cold stone block in the center of her living quarters. The room was sparse, with nothing but the gray stone block in the center, yet compared to the quarters of lesser demons, it was luxurious. Most demons shared quarters with at least a hundred others, and there was no stone block to lie on. Not Lilitu, however. Through her seductive prowess and ambition, she had gained the respect and trust of Marduk, and she was now one of his highest ranking demons. 

Steam permeated the darkened room as their heavy breathing filled the air. He had spent most of the evening in the vault of knowledge and his mind was tired. Laying with Lilitu was, in his mind, a much-needed respite.

Their coupling had been intense, and he now lay next to her, admiring the way her three horns were tinted with the most subtle shade of red, matching the highlights in her otherwise raven-black hair. 

“What more have you learned, my lord?” she asked as she stroked his chest with her razor-sharp, black fingernails.

“Learned?” he asked. “Learned of what?”

“You know of what I speak,” she said. “The ring. What more have you learned about the ring and its powers?”

“Ah, my seductive Lilitu,” he began. “I wonder sometimes if I should have told you about my visits to Lucifer’s vault.”

“My dearest demon,” she purred. “If there is any demon you can trust—not to say there is—you know it is me.”

“This is true, and while I cannot, and will not, tell you all I have learned, I can tell you this. The ring has more power than Lucifer himself realizes. There are powers it can manifest on Earth that can not be manifested here in the underworld.”

“Really?” Lilitu propped herself up on one elbow and looked into Marduk’s blazing red eyes. “Like what?”

“Well, for starters …” Marduk began. He stopped himself, looked at Lilitu, and laughed. 

“You didn’t think you could trick me that easily, did you?”

“You can’t blame a demon for trying,” she purred.

“Anyway,” he continued. “I believe there are still more powers to be had, should the ring ever fall into the possession of a human.”

“Surely that will never happen.”

“I can’t see how,” Marduk said. “The old man never removes it from his hand.”

“You said you don’t think Lucifer realizes the powers the ring holds. Why do you think that?”

“Because, despite all his power, or perhaps because of it, Lucifer is lazy. He admitted once, many years ago, that he hadn’t been to the vault in millennia, and found its contents to be mundane and things he already knew.”

“Interesting,” Lilitu said, rolling onto her back.

“Yes,” Marduk said, his eyes staring at the ceiling of the dark room. “Very interesting.”

***

Ten years passed as Marduk’s minions searched the earth for the prophesied girl. While they searched, Marduk built alliances with other demons, currying favor with some of Lucifer’s most trusted allies. His support was growing, as was his knowledge. He had visited the vault of knowledge only once a year for the last ten years. When Lucifer indicated he was aware of Marduk’s visits there, he knew he would need to be more cautious in his visits. Still, he was determined to learn all he could of the ring and its powers. And he had learned a great deal. A great deal more than he ever shared with Lilitu or any other demon.

Once again, sitting at the head of a table occupied by some of the highest-ranking demons in hell, Marduk spoke of Lucifer’s complacency and lack of leadership. Suddenly, a young demon entered the darkened cavern. Standing almost seven feet in height, long, barbed horns protruded from his head, adding at least another foot to his stature. He had to duck to clear the entrance. His pale, green skin glistened in the dim light as he approached Marduk.

“We have found her,” he exclaimed.

Marduk stood and approached the breathless demon. “This is excellent news, Barbatos! Where is she? Who is she?”

Barbatos excitedly told Marduk the young woman’s name and location on Earth.

“And you are certain this is the girl we are looking for?” Marduk asked him.

“Yes, Master. We have been watching her, and while she is young, her powers are evident and appear to be growing stronger. Although …” Barbatos hesitated.

“Although, what?” Marduk asked, his voice rising.

“It appears she is still discovering her powers and is struggling to gain control of and understand them.”

“Perfect.”

“I don’t understand how she can be such a threat if her powers are still untapped.”

“That’s the point,” Marduk said. “We must take care of her before she grows any stronger.”

“You may leave now, Barbatos,” Marduk said as Barbatos nodded in understanding. “You have served me well and will be rewarded.”

Barbatos turned from the table and left.

Returning to his seat, Marduk addressed the gathering. He was pleased to have so many of his high-ranking friends there to support his quest for power. Astarte, Mammon, Belphegor, Behaemoth, Amon, Orobas, Pruflas, Cerberus, and the lovely, seductive Lilitu were all present. Altogether, they commanded one hundred and forty armies, and Marduk knew every one of them would be needed if they were to succeed.

“Where were we?” he asked.

“Not so fast, Marduk,” Astarte replied. “Are you going to tell us what your plans are for this young girl? Surely you are not planning on going to Earth yourself to handle this, not while we are still formulating our plans.”

“No, I am not going to Earth,” Marduk said. “I have the perfect demon in mind to send to handle her.” Marduk paused, scanning the scarred and hideous faces of the demons seated around the table. “For now, we need to lay out our strategy for conquering Lucifer.”

In hushed voices, the demons resumed their conversations and thoughts on how best to set their plans in motion.