‘I don’t trust you!’ she exclaimed into the face of Lucifer, and called him the Lord of Lies for his numerous vague promises.
‘Trust who you want,’ the Infernal replied. ‘I told you to watch out for your own self-interest. What is good for me is not necessarily what is good for you… Do not look to the Infernal Empire for answers. Blaze your own trail.’
When she recounted this conversation to a friend later, the attentive listener helped to put things into perspective. ‘Nora,’ she said, ‘this is what an enemy would tell you! Go watch out for yourself. That you are on your own. What has he ever done, how has he helped in everything he saw you go through? He could have done anything, he could gave you money, and yet he chose to do nothing.’
Her words sat with her in silence. Later that day, another friend appeared. This friend was a Black Magician. He laughed. ‘He is your Enemy! He is the Adversary. He is here to challenge you, and to make you stronger.’
Together, they recounted stories of other Practitioners of the Black Arts, who found themselves bedridden in pain with a serious disease. They called upon the Prince of Darkness to cure them. He appeared, always, unmoved. Told them, ‘I could help you from this…. but I won’t. You must do this yourself. Good luck.’
And so it didn’t matter, at the end of the day, the opinions of men and all the commentary she received, and all the unsolicited advice urging her to abandon the path of lying spirits or to find a good man when she still has time. It was between her and the Adversary who is as old as humankind. The one who has been here since the beginning. Who has been known to her under many names, embodied as various men in her life stories. Evil men, neglectful, men who always turned a blind eye when she begged them for help. Who kicked her when she was down or sat idly watching from the sidelines.
They were all one, her true spouse, Satan the Adversary.
