Subj: The Better Half part 1
Date: 7/22/99 10:44:43 PM Central Daylight Time
From: miranda
The Better Half
Part One
In the depths of hell Angelique waded through a waist deep murky pond trying desperately to reach the other side. She could see the keys to the chains that were bound around her ankles hanging on a wooden peg jutting out of the brown craggy wall. She still wore the once lovely dress that she had been wearing when Trask shot her. Although she had only been here for a few days it was already tore, bloody, and dirty. She reached up, inches away from the keys, but jumped back suddenly when an unseen creature swam up against her. Angelique let out a sigh. It was useless, it always was to try and escape from hell. This time was different however. This time she was driven to escape, for she heard what Barnabas had said as her spirit departed her body. He said that he loved her.
She reached up again, but this time was interrupted by the arrival of Nicholas Blair. "What a pitiful sight. The once mighty Angelique, now residing in a mud hole. How tragic."
"What do you want Nicholas? No doubt you've come here to gloat," Angelique replied. She eyed the two demon guards that accompanied him.
"Yes, of course I am here to gloat, but I also have another purpose," Nicholas smiled. "It is time for you to see the master."
Immediately, Angelique felt the heavy shackles release her ankles. She trudged out of the muddy slime and climbed onto dry land. As she headed out of the vast cavern in the direction of her master's dwelling place, she quickly turned and pushed the unexpecting Nicholas into the swamp. He came up sputtering and shouting, "You'll regret that Angelique! I hope the master sentences you to the Pit of Worms!"
Angelique merely smiled as she turned and continued on her journey. She might have laughed before, but nothing could console her sadness now. She knew well that her master was very displeased with her for continuing to pursue Barnabas Collins. Defeating Judah Zachary, all for the sake of love, was an abomination for which she would surely suffer dearly.
Angelique and her demon escorts shortly arrived in Diabolos' throne room. There were many inhabitants in the large chamber, engaged in various types of orgy-like activities. Diablolos sat on his throne made out of a large gray rock, overlooking the vast crowd. One by one, each being in the room silenced itself or ceased in its activities. All eyes were fastened on Angelique as she stood quietly before their master.
Diabolos began to speak in a booming, deep voice, "Angelique, you have disappointed me once again. Time after time I have given you chances to prove yourself, but you consistently defy me. Therefore, I have decided to rid you of the weak and abhorrent parts of yourself."
Angelique didn't understand what Diabolos meant by this statement. She expected to be sentenced to one of the most distasteful areas of hell or to endure hard and degrading labor for a number of years, but this judgment was beyond her comprehension. "I do not understand."
Diabolos laughed. "Your mind is much to small to even imagine what I am decreeing. To put it simply I am going to turn you into two separate entities. One will embody all of your hatred and anger, as well as all your other admirable qualities. The other will house all the things I detest most in you. One of you will defeat the other and cause all those traits to be nonexistent. When your evil side wins, and I have no doubt that will be the outcome, you will be rewarded and you will once again be my favored disciple."
"And if the other side wins," Angelique boldly asked.
Diabolos laughed again, "If for some unforeseen reason your good side wins, I would not want that disgusting thing in my presence and you would live out your days on the earth as a mortal."
Angelique opened her mouth to ask another question, but a piecing pain struck her in the chest and she fell to the ground. It felt as if she were being torn apart and that was literally what was happening to her. Her vision clouded and all she could see was a blinding white light about her. The last thing she remembered was Diabolos saying, "May the better half win."
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Angelique awoke in Eagle Hill cemetery lying naked on the grave of "Valerie Collins". In the darkness, she clutched the stone and began to pull herself up when she was suddenly flung backwards by a blow to her face. She quickly got her bearings and stared up into her own eyes. Over her stood the exact image of herself. "You pathetic, weak woman," the other Angelique sneered. "You will die before this night is over." She raised her arm to deliver another blow. The "good" Angelique raised her arm over her head and closed her eyes, but nothing happened. When she opened them she saw that her mirror image had her head turned, distracted by something. She turned back to the Angelique on the ground and snapped, "Another time then."
Angelique crawled off the ground and peered over the gravestone. It was Julia! She stood openmouthed as the other Angelique sauntered past her in all her naked glory. "Angelique! What are you doing here? What happened to you?" Angelique didn't answer, but continued to walk by Julia with an ugly expression on her face. "Angelique?"
Confused, Julia stood stationary until she disappeared among the old gravestones. Then she heard a voice, "Julia, Julia, over here."
Julia walked towards the voice. She drew in her breath sharply when she saw yet another Angelique crouched behind the head stone. "What is going on here?" she demanded. Immediately thoughts of this being another one of Angelique's twisted plans passed through her head.
"Julia, please help me," Angelique pleaded and proceeded to tell her story.
TO BE CONTINUED