The Musings of a Dark Mind

Lucifers Wife

This little story is based on the writings of Dante Alighieri in his Divine Comedy - Inferno. Dante writes of the poets journey through the underworld of Hell after getting lost on a walk one night. Good read!

It was millennia ago, but he still remembers the first time he ever laid eyes on her. He remembers the smell of Hell on that day, the sounds that surrounded him, and the hum of something different in the air.

Lucifer woke earlier than usual on the fateful morning. Unsure what had woken him or why he felt like he wouldn't get to sleep again and so he stood to his feet and stretched his arms wide, alleviating the sleepiness from his body. He walked to the large window that opened out onto a wide balcony and looked out over Hell. This was his Palace, looking over his domain. He had crafted and shaped this Hell as everything he could ever want or need for the damnation of the sinners below, and he was proud of his achievement. As he looked out over his balcony that morning however, he knew something was very wrong in his kingdom.

It was a feeling. Maybe something new?

It was a smell. Maybe the lack of one?

It was a sound. Was that quietness he heard?

It couldn't be shaken.

Lucifer walked back inside and knew that he had to find the source of this unease.

With haste he made his way through his Palace and out through the ornately decorated vast doors. Crafted from the bones of virgins and decorated with the blood of slain angels. As the large door softly closed shut behind him he thought for a moment about the countless angels he himself had disposed of, and wondered if their vengeance was now upon him.

Step by step he approached the gates of his Hell and noticed something immediately wrong. Upon creation of this Hell, Lucifer himself had chiseled the words ABANDON ALL HOPE, YE WHO ENTER HERE above the great stone gates. However as he approached Lucifer saw dark markings blasted over much of his first artwork so the inscription now read: DON HOPE, WHO ENTER

Lucifer stopped in his tracks and wondered how many angels might it have taken to blast his carving into that.

Tick

                                                   Tick

                   Tick

Seconds turned into minutes as Satan stared up in confusion.

Shaking his head and knowing he must move forward to find the source of this abomination he moved into the vestibule of Hell.

But here again things were wrong. Many of the horrifying plagues of bugs were lying dead on the floor. The stench of putrefaction was no longer lingering in its depth. A vast majority of the 'lost souls' damned to live their afterlife in this vestibule seemed content and at ease.

Something was very wrong.

The black river of Acheron was ahead and Charon the Ferryman was parked on this side of the shore, ready to transport newly damned souls to the other side where the nine circles began their descent into the deepest pits of Hell. Charon's long gray hair hung down in dirty ringlets. His beard hung low and ratty. Circles of fire surrounded his eyes.

"Charon!" Lucifer called across the expanse as he walked forward, his large and terrifying body stomping over wasps, hornets, maggots and worms.

"My dear Lord Satan." Charon bowed politely as Lucifer approached him. Charon could feel the frustration and confusion festering within his Master.