"Blowing out someone else's candle doesn't make yours shine any brighter."
*****************
Lothaire invited Zarin to his home in one of his hidden kingdoms. He took him to his luxurious parlor and asked him to sit down. This was going to be a long, interesting conversation, and he wanted to set the mood.
Tezz was right. The more people he got on his side that Heaven cared for, the bigger the chance would be of her staying with him once he got a hold on her.
He poured some wine for himself and Zarin and handed him the golden goblet before getting seated.
"So you say you love my granddaughter?"
Zarin nodded.
"And Zamiel doesn't love her? He is only manipulating her?"
The boy nodded again.
Lothaire sipped his wine, watching Zarin closely.
"Why would he manipulate her?" He asked.
Zarin sighed. "He is using her. He hates witches and wants to have his revenge on them."
Lothaire frowned. The boy made no sense. "I am sure Zamiel could have his revenge in the most cruel way without using Heaven."
The boy put the goblet down and looked at him with a serious expression. "Maybe he wants to have a good time with her first."
Well then, he could just compel her, but Lothaire continued to listen to his nonsense.
Zarin needed guidance. He was a sinner who didn't want to admit to his sins. Or more correctly, he justified his sins. A common human trait. Commit a sin, but blame it on others. Lothaire hated those types, because he would often be the one to be blamed for everyone's sins.
He knew he shouldn't hate them, because those types would never repent as long as they blamed others, and that is exactly what he wanted. But he couldn't help it. His pride didn't allow him to be blamed.
"I just want to make sure that Heaven is safe." Zarin added.
Lothaire put his wine goblet on the table and gazed into Zarin's eyes. "Zarin, who am I?" He asked.
Zarin seemed fazed by the question. "You are Heaven's grandfather." He said.
"That is what I am to Heaven. What am I to everyone else?"
The boy's eyes darted nervously before he spoke. "The devil."
Lothaire could see that Zarin felt uncomfortable calling him the devil.
"And what does the devil do?" He asked.
Zarin looked at him questioningly, wondering why he was being asked these questions.
"You make people sin." He replied distressfully.
"Wrong answer." He told him standing up. "Follow me. I will show you what I do."
Lothaire was a master of manipulation, but what people didn't know was that he could only manipulate those who let him. God's creatures were inherently good, but they all had a sinful nature. All of them were sinners. The difference between them was the consistency of sins and repentance. The good ones would always repent and try their best to not fall into sin again. Others would continue down the same path, walking deeper into the darkness until they see no light when they turn back. And when the path behind you is dark, it is harder to find your way back.
Zarin stood up from his seat and followed Lothaire. He halted and gasped when he noticed the floor beneath him looking like heaven.
"Walk with me." Lothaire said.
Zarin continued to follow him, surprised by and awed by Lothaire's crafty work.
"How did you do this?" He asked.
"It is my job to make the walk pleasing." He responded.
Lothaire created another illusion. He turned the hall into a party as they walked. Music, liquor and fine undressed women chatted and danced. Swaying their seductive uncovered bodies to the music.
Zarin's eyes widened. He looked around, astonished. "This is what I do." Lothaire said, slowing down and motioning toward the provocative view. The women touched each other, engaging in sexual behavior.
"I make sin appealing." He said continuing to walk. "Most materialistic things in life turns us to sin. I provide you with these things."
He made them walk down a path of gold. Zarin looked beneath his feet, there was gold everywhere.
"But the women…" Zarin said, confused.
"Yes, women. Not many women are treated like living creatures. They are sold for power, bought with money and used for various reasons. Even the ones with a royal title. It is sin that makes you treat another living creator like that."
"Then why do you make people sin?" He asked.
Lothaire halted and turned to him. He leaned closer, "I don't make you use a woman for your pleasure. I make her appealing to you. I present the idea to you, encourage you to do it, but at the end it is your choice."
With a thought, he made them standing at the edge of a cliff. Zarin stepped back in shock when he found himself almost falling down.
"Jump." Lothaire told him.
Zarin's eyes widened.
Lothaire motioned for him to go ahead. "Don't you trust me? Do you think I would ask you to do anything that would cause you any harm?"
Zarin looked down, studying the distance. It was a long fall, even for a demon.
"I don't understand why I need to jump." He said.
"You will understand once you have jumped. Right now you just have to trust me. You won't regret it." He promised.
Zarin's heart raced as he looked down. He took a deep breath and gathered his courage before jumping. He was confused when he found himself just a short distance away from where he stood before.
He looked back at Lothaire questioningly. "It was just an illusion."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I wanted you to see that even if I encouraged you to jump, you made the decision to do it." He stated simply. "I'll ask again now. Do you love Heaven?" He took them back to the parlor with a thought.
Zarin was quiet for a moment this time before he replied. "Yes."
"Do you love her or do you hate Zamiel?"
Confusion showed in his eyes.
"Are you concerned for Heaven's safety or do you just want to get rid of Zamiel?" Lothaire asked.
"I am concerned for Heaven." He said.
Lothaire took a step forward, towering over him. "Don't lie to me, boy. I know what you want before you know it. Just tell me exactly what you want. Here is the only place you can express your darkest secrets and desires without being judged."
Zarin's became nervous again. "I really care about Heaven's safety."
"But not as much as you care to make Zamiel the sinner. I can't help you if you don't admit it. You hate that man more than you love Heaven, don't you?"
"It is not true." Zarin shook his head in denial while taking a step back.
"He took away Heaven from you. It is understandable that you hate you him."
"It is not about that." He kept denying.
"It is. Heaven made you feel special because you were the only man in her life. She looked up to you and then suddenly another man became more important to her." Lothaire cocked his head and pretended to be thoughtful. "Is that envy?"
"I am not envious."
"Then it must be pride. Another man taking your place in Heaven's life hurt you pride. Especially since he makes you feel inferior."
Zarin kept shaking his head. "The only thing that man makes me feel is hatred. He hurt everyone I love."
"And you love Heaven?"
"Yes."
"That is why you don't want to marry her because you want to live freely, but you also don't want to let her go to someone else. You want all of it. That sounds like another sin."
"What are you trying to imply?" He sounded annoyed.
"That you are a sinner. Just like me, therefore I can't and I won't judge you. I just want you to be honest if you need my help."
Zarin ran his fingers through his hair, distressed. "I don't know what you want me to say." He said pacing back and forth.
Lothaire leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. He was enjoying all of this.
"I want you to embrace it. Why do you have to feel bad about hating someone? Or wanting more? You can want Heaven, have your freedom and hate Zamiel. There is nothing wrong with that. But don't lie to me or to yourself."
"Yes!" He called out loud. "Yes. I want Heaven. I want her all to myself and I hate Zamiel because he took her away from me." He finally admitted, almost tearing his hair out in frustration. "So will you help me now?"
Lothaire's lips curved into an evil smile. "What exactly do you want me to do?"