The Kingdom

Complete evil was the best description I could muster to describe what I felt. The man reminded me of the Itarga lion people all over again and yet this evil was cloaked invisibly within the body of a normally appearing man.

"A demon possessed individual," Urtholan commented softly and despite the merchant's wrathful stare I felt myself comforted by being in the presence of Urtholan. Urtholan's arm came around me and he urged me to keep walking on down the street. I felt the comfort of being with Urtholan as if he was a lifeline pulling me out of deep water.

I soon saw that the merchant wasn't alone. There were more men and even women that stared at me outside of any ability within the physical realm.

"Demons. What are they exactly?" I asked, feeling the weight of the gazes of those I had just mentioned upon me.

"They are the result of disobedience. They are the progeny of those of my kind that fell from grace and worked evil with the creations of my Master. They are abominable in the eyes of El Elyon and without any hope of a future resurrection, as their spirit was not given birth by the Most High."

"Why are we here with them? I'm pretty sure they want to do terrible things to me, the least of which would be to simply kill me."

"It is as you said. They wish to torment and kill all of humanity and put an end to all that El Elyon has purposed for mankind, but they will fail, for it is the will of the Father to draw all mankind to Himself."

"When will He do that?"

Urtholan gave me a sad look, "He already has, but few have listened. I believe you know of whom I speak."

"Yes. I know," his words brought the loss of Kuri's presence with me all the closer to my soul. There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't miss how it used to be, but Kuri had not left me without comfort and now, looking at Urtholan, I could see that he had not left me without a guide either.

"Take comfort. One day those who believe will be gathered to Him again in time without end," Urtholan said warmly to me before starting to walk again.

I followed along looking around as I did. I was learning so much! It was like a fountain of wisdom had been opened up within me and was spilling out and enriching every corner of my existence.

My eyes fell upon a woman. She was dressed in the attire of a prostitute and she had the affected mannerisms to match. She also stared at me with evil intent and yet I felt that the apathy I saw went deeper than those who had come before.