The loveliest of fruits lives not far-flung from home
Though I would not dare but wish to be near you roam
Dreaded power of charm would melt the stoic's heart
Verity or fabrication, this is your art
First meeting didn't lure me much like a good book
However fate dictates to give a second look
And this subsequence is destiny on the brink
But this I find blur and has no logical link
Though the world be in total, absolute dismay,
I'll never grow tired of this recursive cliché
Some farmers rejoice with a bounty of harvest,
The mango derived its flavor from your sweet smile
Satan Judas was being relocated by the Roman government. Reluctantly, the Roman governor sent Judas, the tax collector, to the province of Gaul-Cheré. When asked by the tax collector on his relocation, the governor merely told him that the province needed him. Judas did not believe his superior. In his mind, he concluded that he was being relocated because of the governor’s desire. Dismayed by the decision, he gave the governor he so respected a long farewell: “Your Eminence, since I was twenty and started doing the city’s taxes, from the time I gave you my first salute, I have respected your greatness. It is not my intention to hurt you, but I cannot help but think that you have planned my exile. Nevertheless, I shall pack my clothes and march for Gaul-Cheré.”
Unknown to Satan Judas, his relocation was due to the massive complaints of Avagardians. He was a good man, but strange. The people were annoyed by the fact that he chose to move his residency inside a cemetery. When asked why, Satan Judas would say “Because, it is home.” Misunderstood, Satan was ordered to leave the city.
Twenty nine years ago, when Mary was pregnant and broke, she was finding a new settlement. She rode on a donkey led by her unreliable husband, John the Accoster. John was a naughty man. He refused to take things seriously. Even to the thought of bankruptcy, his cheerful attitude eased the tension. Thirty six weeks since conception, Mary’s baby was about to come out into the world. Finding no house to stay in, they found refuge in Graveland Yard. An eerie place was Graveland Yard. Trees with no leaves crowded the cemetery. Fog clouded even the most cheerful of days. An owl moaned in evening terror. Numerous worms dug holes in the soil. Lost bones scattered everywhere. At midnight, werewolves howled in mating pleasure.
Above a dusty tomb covered with cobwebs and yellowed through ages lay Mary. She had finally given birth to a healthy baby boy. The next logical thing to do was to pick a name for their tiny treasure. The fog must have gotten to John’s head or stimulated by visceral groaning. Naughty as ever, he thought of the weirdest names. Mary, in her bloody clothes, kept refusing his suggestions. “From what madness do you get those names? It is unpleasant enough to give birth to a child in this God-forsaken place. Stop this nonsense and think of a suitable name. You just give me a name from the Bible and I shall never say anything anymore, ” said a fuming Mary. John must have been mad. He had never done anything so wrong to hurt the feelings of his beloved wife. Until he gave his son the name Satan Judas. His wife said nothing. She had promised she wouldn’t.
The sun came out in the east. Satan Judas woke up from the white tomb where he had been residing. As he woke up, he immediately went to the creek to take a bath. Off with his dirty clothes, his medium-built body took a relaxing bath in the cool water. After his bath, he brushed his hair. The length of his hair was up to his shoulders. The color of his straight mane was black.
Strolling through Eternal Gardens’ main walk, he opened the large gate. Ever so gently, he closed the metal gate. It was his last time to sleep with his friends. The tax collector took a twenty-minute walk to arrive at his real house. Packing his things, two hours later, he fled to the province of Gaule-Cheré.
When Gaul-Cheré welcomed Satan Judas’ arrival, the province’s new tax collector rested in his new mansion. It was a gift from the governor from Avagard. He was not comfortable with the adjustment. However, willing to make a change, he tried to forget about his past in Avagard.
Immediately, Satan Judas set off to work. The first on his list was a wine cellar owned by one fat, drunken master named Jeffrey. The old bachelor used the wall as support as he ventured to Judas’ table. The tax man handed to the cellar master his taxes due.
“I cannot read the figures, read them aloud to me,” said Mister Jeffrey. Conforming in a loud voice, Satan Judas read the figures. Immediately the huge numbers arrested the master’s questioning.
“Why the large amount?” said Master Jeffrey. “It used to be small when our old tax collector was in town,” he continued.
“This is a relatively small amount. It is what taxation school has taught me. I am merely applying the knowledge I gained.”
Not wanting to pay a huge tariff, Master Jeffrey negotiated with the tax collector. Master Jeffrey offered Satan Judas, as a compromise, a town story. The tax collector agreed that if the story was good, he would give the wine cellar owner a discount.
Master Jeffrey told Satan Judas about a folk tale. It was said that in the province of Gaul-Cheré, there was a werewolf. Although no one had seen the creature, no one could also explain all the missing people and mysterious deaths. Victims of the supposed werewolf were almost unidentifiable. Cadaver parts were scattered everywhere whenever the werewolf finished hunting. Sometimes, trails of blood lead nowhere. The werewolf sometimes would prefer to engulf its sorry prey. However, all cadavers recovered were male. There were no sightings of a female corpse. Perhaps it was a she-wolf, or it probably enjoyed swallowing female bodies. Nothing was certain. Not a soul had seen the thing or survived the fearful ordeal.
Still in doubt if the story was true, but extremely delighted with what he had heard, Satan Judas gave Master Jeffrey a big discount. In taxation, such a large discount is coined as an exempt. Judas left the cellar.
After exempting one tax payer, Satan Judas decided to obtain the lost income through the fortune teller. The fortune guru’s hut was dark. Candle lights gave the room enough brightness. The fortune teller came out from the back in his red Satanic gown. He had just finished praying to Satan. Not many people were having their fortune told by the Satanic fortune teller. It did not, however, leave him broke. For most of his customers were Roman soldiers who were mostly atheist.
Before Satan Judas could even speak, the Satanic teller said, “Speak no more, oh, Satan Judas, son of Mary and John the Accoster, tax collector of Gaul-Cheré, whose name derived from the ruler of hell and the traitor of Jesus. I know you have come to avenge your losses through me.” Satan Judas now felt that it was his bad day and the people of Gaul-Cheré were all spendthrifts and bargainers. Judas must have been a fortune teller as well for he predicted that he was to get another bargain. The Satanic teller told Judas of his future love. Judas’ future wife would be a beautiful aristocrat. Her eyes were blue. Her long hair black. Her soul pure and faith absolute. Excited was Judas. For in his life he never had anything worthwhile. He never dreamed of anything. He was alone. But love came at a price. Tax collector Judas was to meet his ladylove. However, fate would be cruel. Judas’ future love would die before they get married. If he would tempt fate to save his lady, he would lose his own life.
Fortunately, the Satanic follower could save him. The demand was exorbitant. Satan Judas had not a choice.
“Here is a test tube of the blood of Beelzebub. It will bring you back to life,” stated the Satanic teller.
“The price is rather exorbitant. But, if it is for the one I love, then so be it,” Satan Judas replied in acceptance of the bargain.
At Gaul-Cheré, a party was thrown by a wealthy Egyptian family. People from all over came, including Satan Judas and a man named Lawrence Napoleon. The food and drinks were like ambrosia and honey. While grabbing a chicken thigh, he was approached by the Egyptian couple. They were offering their luscious daughter to him. The Egyptian princess had long legs, her skin silky Mediterranean, her lips the color of rose, her eye lashes like Cleopatra’s, her body like a guitar, her breast shaped like perfect paraboloids.
“Good evening, sir,” greeted the princess.
“Good evening. To whom do I speak to? Whose loveliness am I in front of?” inquired Lawrence Napoleon.
“The night is young. If you really want to know me then love me. But, before you fill my every orifice, I must warn you that bliss is a privilege higher than gold.” exclaimed the Egyptian woman with her hand on the man’s face.
Sending Napoleon the necessary instructions, the couple prepared their daughter.
Napoleon’s wife was left in Avagard, waiting for his return. Victoria, the wife, dreamt of the infidelity of her husband. She would not, however, concede that it was happening in reality. She gave truth to the age old saying that love was blind.
Victoria was raised by her parents King Eivan the great and Ara of Barcelona. Victoria’s court was serene, making Victoria a refined aristocrat lady. Her mother taught her to be faithful. Never had she had a relationship with any boy or man until she married Lawrence Napoleon through arrangement.
However, marriage was not happy for Victoria. Her husband constantly womanized. Firm on the values taught to her by mother Ara, she remained loving to her spouse. She never had rendezvous with other men, she was blind in loyalty.
After all wining, dining and chatting, Satan Judas went outside. Looking at the full moon, he recalled his destiny. Excited by the thought of meeting his destined bride made him felt like urinating. Judas left his spot and entered the outdoor restroom. The restroom was made of rock, even the urinals and sink. While standing and answering the call of nature, he noticed something by the large open window. It was a dark shadow. Like a dog it was. The shadow passing by left Judas curious. He followed the shadow.
Satan Judas ran and ran. A pack of wolves was after him. In the night sky were flying gargoyles bloodthirsty for his flesh. He recalled the story of Master Jeffrey. Through the night, he had no escape from these creatures of the damned. He jumped across the brook ahead of him five meters wide. All creatures from the deepest layer of hell withdrew the chase. Satan Judas was tired, breathing violently as if air was insufficient. He consoled himself with the thought of his new inspiration.
After that dreadful night of terror in Gaul-Cheré, Satan Judas filed for a leave. He returned to his beloved Avagard City.
It was forty days since the disappearance of Lawrence Napoleon. Convinced that her husband was dead, Victoria held a funeral in his honor. Satan Judas attended it, unknown to him who died and who had been widowed. He accosted one mourner who told him everything.
Curious about this Lawrence Napoleon, Satan Judas pleaded with his informer to tell more. The mourner continued that early that month, Napoleon had gone to Gaul-Cheré. The cause of death, however, the mourning man had no answer for. Ironically, Judas had the answer.
Judas told his informer that he might have known what happened to the womanizing bastard. He recalled that dreaded night in Gaul-Cheré when he and the shadow passed by. Curiously he followed it. After a while, he had lost the mysterious shadow but found a magnificent structure. He hid behind a rose bush. A man walked to the structure. He placed a container full of jewels beside a tall statue of an Egyptian dog man made of pure gold. The floor where the treasure was laid lowered. Open did the golden door. The man entered the structure. A minute later, a loud, frightened scream came from the Egyptian structure. It was like the scream of one being locked in a tomb alive with hungry dogs feasting on one’s flesh.
Out came the widow, Victoria, sobbing in sorrow over the demise of her unfaithful spouse.
“Who is she?” asked Judas.
“She is the widow,” said the mourner.
The mourner excused himself from the company of Satan Judas. In the course of the night, the story of Avagard’s former tax collector spread throughout the funeral house.
Inevitably, Judas’ story reached Victoria.
When everybody left, Satan Judas and Victoria were left alone. By this time Judas’ tale reached Victoria inevitably. However, Victoria did not know the source of the story.
“My deepest condolences to your demised husband,” said Judas. Victoria burst into tears. She covered her face with her small hands. Judas was overwhelmed with powerful emotions. He took one hand away from Victoria’s face and with his other hand, removed her other hand. Judas held Victoria’s hands tightly. Then, he gave her a sweet embrace. He sat her down and let his hand glide through her long hair. He held her face with both hands and stared into her beautiful eyes. Her eyes told a sense of grief. His thumb moved up to wipe off her tears. In that moment, man and woman were lost in time and space, preoccupied with the company of the higher power. Judas got lost in the eyes of Victoria. Victoria closed her eyes. And with a kiss, she fell asleep.
The following day, she woke up but Judas was gone. The stranger, who had consoled her in her times of deep sorrow, ended his leave upon hearing of the widow’s plan to go to Gaul-Cheré.
Victoria was extremely depressed that her blue eyes turned pale. Upon noticing her, Master Jeffrey invited her to his wine cellar. The drunkard gave her wine. Unable to bear the paleness of her once cheerful face, Master Jeffrey told her about a folktale. It was the same one he had told Satan Judas. With her head face down on the table, Victoria slowly looked up at Master Jeffrey, her eyes wide. Doubtful if werewolves killed her husband, she searched for verification.
Exhausted, Victoria found refuge in the Egyptian aristocrats’ settlement. Knowing that Victoria was also an aristocrat, the Egyptian couple allowed her to spend the night. On her way to her room, she noticed the Egyptian princess was getting dressed in another room. She watched as the princess was putting on her Egyptian nightgown. The princess’ clothes were sexy and revealing. Her upper garment was transparent light orange with a brassiere on the inside. Legs were hidden only by a thin sheet of cloth.
Victoria went outside for some fresh air. Curious by the footprints she saw, Victoria followed them. Her eyes were astounded when she saw the magnificent structure that Satan Judas saw. A man placed the “price of bliss” on the floor beside the Egyptian statue. The floor sank and the golden door opened. After five seconds, a scream echoed through the night.
Victoria returned to the palace. Passing by the princess’ room again, she saw four maids cleaning the princess’ body. Bloody it was. The widow could not leave the hairy growth on her chest unnoticed. Fangs were also noticeable from Victoria’s distance. Master Jeffrey had not lied. Victoria knew that it was the princess who killed her husband. She was convinced that Satan’s story was fact.
Master Jeffrey was bored. He decided to pay the princess a visit. The princess entertained her drunken visitor. Delighted by the “muscles” possessed by the wine cellar owner, the princess invited him for some physical feast.
“Good evening, princess,” Master Jeffrey told the Egyptian.
“Hush, my dear. The evening is good, but I am better, ” replied the seductress fondling Master Jeffrey’s big belly.
The princess went to her room to dress for the occasion after telling Master Jeffrey where to go.
Victoria saw opportunity in the sexual invitation. She asked Master Jeffrey to withdraw the offer. Bored to death, Master drunker refused to. Victoria gave him a bottle of his favorite wine. Immediately, he was persuaded. Master Jeffrey, used the wall as support and joyfully left the palace.
With the prey out of the way, Victoria could now initiate her revenge. She stood outside the golden door. She waited tirelessly; the urge for vengeance was so great. Satan Judas had been spying on her all this time. When the door of the Egyptian structure opened, Satan Judas pushed Victoria out of the way. He knew from experience that if Victoria would enter, she would certainly die.
Judas’ intention was to save Victoria and nothing more. He voluntarily lay himself on the bed while the Egyptian princess was still out of sight. By doing so, he had succumbed to the fact that he was to die. The princess came out and went to bed with Judas. Satan Judas prepared his soul for death. He did not fight the princess. He knew she was too powerful. To lessen the torture in his mind that he would die, Judas thought of the princess as Victoria. “Alas, with the thought of my love, I die,” was his last words.
Victoria wanted to enter. She had in her hand a knife she got from the palace kitchen. She walked around that splendid structure, using her hands to inspect the walls. There was absolutely no alternative way of getting in. Master Jeffrey then arrived at the scene. Drunk he was. His heavy body fell into a covered hole. Victoria went to look if the Master was okay. Gently, Victoria moved herself down the hole. No matter how gently her manner of maneuvering, the slime made her hand slip. Bouncing on the drunkard’s belly, her fall was broken. The Master had never felt better.
The stench under the hole was overwhelming. Worms came out of the underground soil. Bones were scattered everywhere. A pale hyena was eating the last piece of meat from a downed man. It was the catacomb of the Egyptian family.
The stench under the catacomb was temporarily overpowered by a smell of a perfumed odor. Victoria followed the smell. She was led to a door. With fear in her veins and sweat all over her terrified face, she pushed open the door. Victoria had extracted herself out of the Egyptian princess’ cabinet. The still horrified lady saw Satan Judas in bed with the princess on top. The princess had not yet engulfed him. The foreplay was long. Interrupted in the midst of the pre-sexual activity, the lovely Egyptian removed her human clothing. She started growing hair all over her voluptuous anatomy, on her face, her chest, her legs, her back. “Awoo!” was the terrible cry. The princess of werewolves turned her attention to Victoria who was frightened to death. Satan Judas gallantly stepped in front in Victoria’s aid. The werewolf bit Judas’ right arm off the socket. The intervention allowed Victoria to lodge the knife into the large skull of the werewolf. Down but not out, the werewolf stood up again and shoved Victoria to the side of the cabinet. Satan followed Victoria, carried her wounded body with one arm. He, by chance, broke through a false wall with his back to protect the lady. Ran they did, as Judas had experienced it before. The princess’ subjects had risen from hell. They followed them fiercely with fangs showing. The gargoyles bared their claws in an attempt to swipe Victoria and Judas off their feet. Victoria and Judas successfully crossed the brook, tired, frightened and wounded.
Judas lost a lot of blood. Victoria, in gratitude, kissed him. Judas’ face was yellow. He started to spit blood but then swallowed it back. He fainted in the depths of the night. Victoria hugged him tightly. With her hug, the vial worn by the neck of Judas broke and the liquid inside it spread to his chest. The tube was gotten from the Satanic fortune teller. Victoria, in belief that she had lost him, left.
In Victoria’s court, King Eivan and Mama Ara consoled Victoria. Victoria told her parents everything, every terrible detail. She rested on the bosom of her mother. Then entered a man. He was odd for he only had one arm. Victoria, upon seeing him, ran towards the door. She drew near him. With a tender hug, she welcomed him.
Victoria asked the man how he was resurrected. The man never answered but with a smile. It did not matter for the moment was precious.
Satan Judas sacrificed even before meeting her. For Judas loved the girl so much, that he gave his only soul!
