EXTRACT FOR
The Beast Belial
(Anna Mann)

Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate.

The words were carved into the stone archway that opened into a large chamber lit with a series of flaming torches.

It means, "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here." The voice was louder and filled with mirth.

From Dante, he wrote an interesting little tale about myself and my home, surprisingly accurate in places, almost as though he had been peeping, but I always enjoyed that warning, so much so that I had it added to the real entrance to my realm.

"This is Hell?" Clara stammered as she felt herself drawn to the middle of the chamber and a wicker basket set on a small table.

The voice tutted. "This is just the entrance, call it the lobby. But forget about that for the moment... open the basket."

Clara looked down, it looked like something from Aladdin, or the type of basket used by Indian snake charmers, the traditional urn shaped basket with a circular woven reed lid. I don't like snakes, Clara shuddered and pulled away the hand that was reaching out slowly to obey.

"Do it!" his voice hissed, menacing and insistent, "Do it now!"

Her hand shaking Clara fumbled with the lid, every fibre in her body was screaming No, yet she was unable to control her actions, she was being steered by a will infinitely stronger than her own.

It has to be a snake, or snakes in there she told herself as the lid slowly slid aside. A cobra, or an asp, something venomous!

Clara closed her eyes, the inside of the basket was glowing softly, a golden orange glow like the faint illumination that had drawn her down into hell.

Put your hand inside.

The command was fed straight into her mind and Clara felt a tear roll down her cheek as against her will she felt her hand brush against the edge of the basket. She was reaching inside, she squeezed her eyes shut tighter anticipating the agony of curved fangs dripping poison.

It's all over for me she sobbed silently, she knew she hadn't been what would be described as a model citizen, morally she was lacking, she gave in to temptation far too easily and she would casually lie to achieve what she desired... but Hell? 

Were her crimes really that serious?

Scales as hard as steel passed over her trembling fingers, Clara gasped softly as her fear voided her aching bladder, her pee splashing down onto the smooth stone floor. The snake was heavy and cold, and Clara opened her eyes, rather than biting it had begun to wrap its sinuous body around her arm. Again she gasped, instantly she recognised that this was no cobra, she was staring in disbelief at a python with shining golden scales and burning red eyes.

"You are not the first gullible slut to stare into those fierce eyes," the voice of Lucifer whispered, his mirth clear to hear, "He tempted her, he turned her away from the light and led every woman born of man to experience true pain, he made you the way you are, adulterous and deceitful creatures."

Clara shook her head, the situation was becoming ever more surreal.

"You are correct," the voice chuckled, "Her name was Eve... so, would you like a bite of my apple dear?"