Parables of Samos — The Demon Delegates (Chapter II)

“Ah, the holy Angelport, with tiles of jade and doors of amber.”

The Preface

The All-Father was big. So big, that no one other than Himself knew of his unbelievable vastness. Some of his children feared that they might never escape Him if they lived inside, so they tried. Unfortunately, none ever reached the beginning or the end of His cosmos. It was only then that His children knew of his infinite nature. He was not big, but eternal. There was no place that they could go, that He was not aware of.

In some worlds, the idea of a devilish, evil and torturous Hell is widespread, but this is not the case. The All-Father creates his children in Him. Since he is infinitely big, they are created in His centre, from Him. They are of His flesh and a part of Him. As they grow and learn more of themselves and Him, they earn the freedom of staying or going. The further

His children distanced themselves from His centre, the further they distanced themselves from Him.

All His children who decided to stay with Him, for they knew too well of His perfect, infinite and unparalleled presence, lived a Godhood so splendid, that they found no reason to part their way. Unfortunately, those who left Him in order to find themselves ironically lost themselves. They lost themselves for they had forgotten whence they came. They believed that they were of different kin. They saw their bodies of flesh, feathered wings and Godly powers as their own, and they were right, but they were His.

Thankfully, the All-Father knew mercy, and He knew it well. He let them leave to find themselves. Some realised that they were of Him, while others kept searching. The ones who never found themselves, by realising their conception, adventured far and wide, into a world unknown, yet it was still in Him. However, they could not see Him anymore, but only a world without Him.

They saw a world where brothers hated their sisters, and sisters hated their brothers. They saw a world where Gods would need to prove their power, before believing themselves worthy of their Godly nature. They saw a world that was void of His love, empty of his presence and filled with their greed. They knew this world as Hell.

The Believer

“Ah, the holy Angelport, with tiles of jade and doors of amber. How beautiful she is, my beloved. My sincerest apologies for our tragic destination, but I assure you that our suffering will not go forgotten. Stevios, surely you are well familiar with this crowd? What with all these Angels, there mustn’t be a single one whose face you dare not know? Oh, the joy of being worthy of our Father’s trust, how I long to know the reason for my flightless vessel. Fret not, for I will pay my dues in time, but till that day how I will mourn, not even the king of Hell will behold how unforgiving I have proven unto myself.”

“Quiet down, Samos!” Stevios exclaims, “Does your mindless rambling have no end? No wonder the All-Father seems all well with your request to burn in hell. He must long to hear the silence you have thus sequestered, as if it not a burden that He hears all things already, now He has your chatter to endure as well, do you have no mercy on our Father, Samos?” Samos chuckles, “There he is, the witty spirit that did teach me well, I see now whence my banter cometh! Although I care considerably for my endless fountain of perception, I hope you guide us well throughout this heavenly port, of which I am unworthy, lest I bring an usher!

“That’s enough, Samos. This is not an expedition, you are on your way to Hell. Here comes Metaforeas, be you all so silent while I speak some sense into this soldier of nobility. A nobility so glazed with virtue that none who look at it may see its splendour.” Metaforeas approaches, “Stevios, welcome brother. I heard rumours of the blessed son that he requested entry into Hell, where is he? Is this him? They call you Samos? You wear a glove but know no trade other than the running of your tongue, oh forsaken child, for you know not of what you’ve asked. And to you, worthy brother, I will keep my word. Leave them with me, and I will take good care, you can rest assured.”

The Angelport, bellowing with wings of Seraphs and Cherubs, echos an eternity of deliverance. All who wished to journey to a place residing outwardly of Heaven’s quietude were brought to Metaforeas. He, and all his Angels wise and pure, would lead adventurers to their destination, or at least what seemed to be the place they sought. Unbeknownst to Samos, Marqus and Madera, Hell was not their first stopover, but it certainly would be their last. Nonetheless, the place to which they were ill-fated might as well have been Hell itself, for Metaforeas was, like Samos, a sorcerer of beliefs. Albeit, Samos was no more than an apprentice of such magic, the creation of belief. So let us squabble no further, and return to the tale of The Pink Room.

“So,“ Samos begins, “How long until we approach the gates of hell? From which of all these ports shall your pegasus’ depart? To whom may I remark if I see fit that I conclude my visit? Surely, you will not escort us to and through the gates of Hell? Tell me, Metaforeas, how trying are these fools who dwell in Hell? Will they affect my brother or my sister? I assure you, should any miscreant so much as raise their finger, I will wield my Godly power, and unto them, I will strike down Heaven’s force, until they wished themselves beneath the Hell they seem to entertain.”

“Slow down, oh cherished Samos, for these miscreants you lowly speak of have done much worse than you and have spent longer in Hell than you have spent looking into your reflection. Do you even know the inception of this Hell you speak of? For I can tell you, you know nothing of its barbaric nature. All you know is of its nature’s nature, and still, you are uneducated in its most evil regard, to say the least. These Heavens, that you are so fortunate to cast upon your unworthy presence, are the expression of our Father’s eternal love. A love that you most definitely do not understand, let alone express in your expression of yourself. Do you wish to know the beginnings of this Hell, so well that you implore my mercy upon your sorry selves?”

Samos lets out an awkward mumble, “Carry on if you so please.”

“Very well then!” Metaforeas resumes, as he shepherds Samos, Marqus and Madera to an empty chamber, whose ceilings were so high, not even the fastest seraphim could reach its peak. “Long ago, the Gods of the All-Father ruled these heavens. These Gods all loved each other, and they loved our Father as well. After an eternity of love and peace, there was one who believed there was more to behold than the love of the All-Father. Until this unfortunate affair, there was nothing bad, and there was nothing wrong. When this believer flew so far away from the middle of the middle, which we now know as The River of Remembrance, he lost his way and knew not of how to return.

This believer meant no harm to any of his brothers and sisters. However, he wanted to see what would become of him should he drift away from the All-Father, and should harm come his way, in whichever shape or form, he was prepared, or so he believed. You see, this God, whose name I dare not utter, was the first believer. So let us call him The Believer, shall we? Although he inflicted no harm to his brothers and sisters, he most definitely inflicted pain upon himself. Unfortunately, the further he drifted from The River of Remembrance, the further he diminished his memory of our Father.

Thus, the Heavens that then surrounded him were called Hell. Not for its flames of fury, nor was it for the meandering miscreants, but for the Gods’ inability to be with Him. Our Father, whose love was shattered, desired nothing more than the return of His varlet son, but He was afraid that his son would leave again. To save his son from harming himself once more, He sealed him in a world of his own beliefs, wherein all the wickedness he had inflicted unto our Father was inflicted unto him. This pained our Father more than we could ever understand, so let us remember Him in all of our efforts.

Soon after the Believer’s return, although he had learned his lesson, he thought our Father evil and immoral, so he escaped again. This time, however, he took his brothers and his sisters with him, for they believed the words of His wicked son, and became believers themselves. Samos, oh chosen one, you have not been chosen to build a world for your siblings, but for our Father’s lost children. A world that is torturous in its pain, but loving in its forgiveness. You have not been chosen to inflict pain upon these rascals, but rather to teach them of their mistakes through so much love and compassion, that should they face our Father, they would repent until eternities end. You must harness our Father’s love on this journey, and most definitely not your inability to respect those who aren’t as fortunate as yourself. Do you understand?”

“Yes. Yes, I do.” Samos affirms.

The Illusive One

Metaforeas continues, “Tell me, Oh chosen one, why hast thou ventured to the blessed Angelport, truly? What is it you desire from the many worlds that surround your unworthy eyes that seek?” Samos responds, “It is to serve the Lord’s deliverance, oh worthy Metaforeas. It is to venture out of the comfort of my own home, and only return once I have met others alike. Others from whom I shall learn the trades of Heaven. Others from whom I shall learn the beauty of pain, the sorrowful taste of joy and the immeasurable notion of acceptance. It is to create a world from all the lessons learned from those I encounter on my journey, for the forsaken children of our All-Father. A place in which he has entrusted me to pave new roads for his kin who have gone astray. That is why I wish to venture throughout this blessed Angelport, oh brother.”

“So that is why your journey begins in Hell, then?” Metaforeas concludes, “Do you remember the first rule of worlds? It is the most important, and by God, the most forgettable of all the rules imposed upon your foolish souls at The Academy. It states that all things inflicted unto all beings within a world of a God’s creation will be inflicted unto the creationist God. This means, dear brother, that should you create a world with an emphasis regarding hellish lessons, unto will these hellish sentiments be imposed. Are you truly ready for such a feat of bravery, for the deliverance of our Father? Are you worthy enough to take upon yourself the countless sins and lapses of our fallen brothers and sisters? Are you able to take such endless pain so much that our Father forgives their sins, however not for their remorse, but for yours?

You most definitely know of the beauties these worlds may yield, should your lessons prove worthy, but how long will you wait in this holy limbo before you hear the slightest hum of a godly melody? How long will you wait in this forsaken land before you see the slightest nod with respect to the All-Father? How long will you wait to find a fallen God worthy of awakening from their mortal slumber, before our Father awakens you from yours? How long will you wait?”

Samos sighs, “I will wait, and that is all. Until there is nothing left to wait for, I will wait. Will you help me send myself to a place that would make the tenants of Hell believe their home a heaven when compared to mine? I understand, though not completely, what I am to do. So will you help me, with no remorse, reach all that I am looking to find?” Metaforeas laughs, “I am sorry to say, but I will. I will help you and pray that my Father forgives me for all that I am to do. Best of luck, brother, for you will need it on this journey. Forgive me, for all that may become.

I can tell you, with great assurance, that I know many of the greats, from whom I am owed for my countless services of much mercy and forgiveness. These Gods I speak of will surely help you on your journey. I will take you to all of them, and they will guide you in their trade. I will introduce you to The Prince of Pain, who forged torture and misery from the heart of his soul. I will take you to The Jester King, who will teach Marqus all there is left to know in the wondrous and most magical jest of comedy. I will take you to The Dame of Romance, who will bestow upon Madera her endless beauty, and teach of all the responsibilities that come with unparalleled desire.

I will take you to The Genies of Genius, who will show you their most clever wit, and teach you how to hide the All-Father away from the creatures that crawl throughout your world, so much that he is hidden in nothing. I will take you to The Maestro of Melody, The Maven of Fine Arts, The Keeper of Time, The Conqueror, The Gremlins of Gold and The Mysterious Mister E. To all of them, I will take you, and they will take you in. This is my part in your journey, but you must alone endure the troubles ahead, and fear not, oh merciless brother. They will teach you what they know, but not without the cost of what it took them to earn their wisdom. They will teach you all that you need, for this world wish to create.

I will help you, brother. And then, when all is learned, you may go to our Father and hope he is pleased with your work. Hope that he is pleased with your intentions, and for the love of God, hope that he is pleased with you. I understand that he is looking for a God so holy, he is worthy to sit aside Him by his throne. I hope, for your sake, that He finds your world worthy, even for the most powerful God, that He may have no doubt to put a God by his side, should he endure the sorrowful splendour you plan to entertain.

Now, are you ready to embark on your first adventure? This is but a test, but of your passing, I am yet unsure. Are you ready to see my power, and the purpose of our Father’s trust in my hands? Are you ready to see how few your tricks are compared to mine, let alone any of the greats you are yet to meet? All of you, Marqus and Madera as well, are you ready?”

“Yes. We are ready.” Samos, Marqus and Madera say as one. “Well,” Metaforeas continues, “As the first of all The Demon Delegates, it is my duty to bring you to Hell. However, what a waste of my wings it would be, to take you to a place that I can so easily bring to you. Good luck, my beloved.”

Metaforeas looks to Samos, “Let us go, into the depths of Hell, oh worthy Marqus and Madera. However, Samos will not be joining us.”

The Convincer

“Leave him be, Marqus! Samos is not to come forth on this holy expedition, and that is final.” Metaforeas exclaims

“Forgive me, brother, for I am bound by the commandments of my Lord.” Marqus explains. “What… what do you mean? Marqus, surely, you will not leave me here? Why should you take Madera and go? Without me?” Samos implores, “There is nothing for me to do and there is no purpose for my being here. I do not understand why you wish to leave me behind, here in this wretched Angelport, whilst you venture into the vast Heavens of our Father and do unto him good deeds. Dost he hate my spirit? Have I loved too much, with nothing in my way? Is this blessing of love a gift or of cunning disguise?

Why art these shackles on myself? What is it that I have done to deserve such an unforgiving punishment? Metaforeas, you gave me your word that you would take us into the depths of Hell, and here you are, leaving me to rot in this despicable chamber. How dare you lie in the name of our Father? How do your wings carry the sinful burden upon your wicked shoulders? How will you take my brother and my sister from me, and keep me locked inside this filthy chamber? How will you do such horrors in the depths of Hell without my expected company?

You know more than any, that I have longed to visit the gates of Hell and endure their depths more truly than most, and yet you choose to exclude my company. I tell you, Metaforeas, I will stay within these shackles that you have so miserably bestowed upon my expression until I learn of your whereabouts. I will have what is mine returned to me, and you will pay in full. How can our Father ever allow such a thing? How can our Father ever comply with this? How can our Father ever entertain a thing like this?

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Why hast thou forsaken my adventure? Why have you bestowed upon me this uninviting Seraphim, that does not speak of will or desire, but only what seems to be? Can you send for me, my Father? Can you send for me? If only this eternal misery could come to end, then this would be my final plea. How cursed we are to live in your eternal glory, that you alone shall reap its fruits of joy while we but feast on its decay. Why hast thou forsaken me, oh wondrous Father? For you, alone, can bring this fiend to justice. Oh Father, before he leaves with my brother and my sister, bless some sense into his spirit, that he does not escape from the arena of my voice.

If I am not to have what I have come for, what is the purpose of being? And if there is no purpose of being, then why am I here at all? Why would our Father forsake my spirit unto himself, if all but joy should come from its unfortunate inception? Although our Father seems too clear, that He is above and so beyond, where is He? Has anyone ever heard His voice? Has anyone ever seen His eyes? Has anyone ever felt His touch? I know these truths are so very clear, but I am unable to comprehend their paradoxical nature, so much that I am beginning to doubt His presence. Where art thou, Father? Speak if You shall hear me?

How unfortunate, this despicable silence. How loud the sound of remorse within its melodic rest. Metaforeas, how dare you bestow such pain unto my loving spirit? How dare you provoke such a mindless questioning of my Father’s unfathomable nature? How dare you do such a vile thing? All that I asked was to be taken to the depths of Hell, wherein I would endure pain for however many eternities, and show my strength to my Father. But this… this is pain, for I feel nothing at all, and desire even pain to feel something at all.

This… is worse than Hell, so much that one should banish the demons of beneath to not the land of below, but this very chamber, where there is no hope to be found. Where there is no love to be seen. Where there is no songs to be heard. Where there is no sign of our Lord, the All-Father. This is where they will learn to make something of themselves, when all that remains is nothing at all, that they cannot even find themselves within its desolate void, let alone any symbol of our Father.

As Metaforeas, Marqus and Madera hover abound our Samos’ melancholy solemn, they watch as he suffers in his own Hell. You see, Samos was naive. He thought Hell to be a place with no certain kind of suffering. He thought that any God that fell from the Heavens of our Father would suffer in its endless demise. However, he knew not Hell or anything of its cruel conception. Hell was not a place for the enemies of God, but a gift, for those who forgot his merciful and forgiving nature. Metaforeas finally lifted the spell that he bestowed upon our Samos, which was of no magic unknown to you, but magic nonetheless. Metaforeas was the God of doubt, for he himself invented the imperishable, unquestionable and unforgiving notion of deliverance through belief.

Oh, this… this is Hell.” Samos understands. “You… you are able to forge beliefs as well, from nothing at all? I would have never thought to create a belief so mischievous, that it allows for the denial of our Father… How do you have so much power? How did you convince me of a Hell, so much worse than what many may think of Hell to be? How did you… convince me so… well? How?” Samos lowers his gaze, “Will you teach me? Will you teach me, so that I may bestow this ungodly gift unto his children so that they do not suffer past their limits, but enough so that they learn of their mistakes, as I have learned of mine?”

The Doubter

Metaforeas begins, “Look at all that you have learned, without so much as an utter from my voice. The magic of belief is so powerful, that with it, one may create a world where none believe in magic, yet it remains that magic is the cause of such belief. Dear Samos, you were foolish to believe that Hell was a place where visitation is possible. It is of quite a contrary nature, whereby it visits you, wherever you may dwell, that it shall bestow its lowly nature wherever you allow it.

How can Hell be a place of suffering, for a God who thrives in torture? How can Hell be a place of scarcity, for a God who can create something out of nothing? How can Hell be a place of loneliness, for a God who has ever known himself? How can Hell be a place at all, for a God who loves to adventure? Hell is not a place that one may visit, but a curse that appears wherever it may find you. I know very well of your ability to withstand great bouts of suffering, eternal periods of loneliness and harsh trials in new experiences, but how much do you know of unworthiness?

Yes, you may think yourself unworthy of the All-Father, but He is unfathomably eternal, so much that an eternity of eternities would not suffice to regard his vastness. However, how highly do you think yourself to be, in this world of Gods who are unworthy? Any God who seeks Hell will surely find it, but not throughout discovery. Alas, throughout his own inability to enter its gates, for how weak does a God have to be, that not even Hell would dare entertain his pitiful crusade? Only then, will a God feel so low, that neither Heaven nor Hell accepts his request of entry.

If you wish to create a world where all may learn the lessons of which they have been seemingly deprived, then do not squander in your preparations. Understand first the nature of a God, until you know it so well, that none would ever dare to test themselves, let alone the means of their incarceration. Only then will your world be of worth to test the mightiest of Gods, when they think themselves too weak to even jump, that the thought of using their wings becomes benign. With the power of belief, this becomes infinitely possible. But how will you know with what wit to test these Gods? Follow me, and I shall take you to the palace of the most enduring Prince of Pain.”