Dream Job.
Welcome home.
What if you woke up one morning and you were the devil? Never mind the logistics, it just happened. Suddenly your new job is to oversee hell. You are its Lord and Master. What would you do? Argue? Deny it? Leap for Joy and grow at least a foot taller? Think of the power you would suddenly have. The responsibility. Think of your new enemy, God. Think of all you will know, what will it do to you, this new knowledge? Think of me, the true Lord, coming for you, that will be the worst part.
But let’s imagine I’m delayed for some reason, most likely to do with Aela, the love of my long life. Let’s assume she has me tied up somewhere, a fate I richly deserve. So, you are in the seat of power, look into the fire, what do you see? If you’re fit for the job, you won’t care what you see, dismiss it, it’s nothing but the world destroying itself. Your world. Who cares? What will you do now?
Who have you hated? What have you suffered? At whose hands? You have them now, in your power, you can punish. What will you do to them? Now think about what you will take. Anything and everything, it’s all yours. Sit in your most comfortable chair and be served by humble minions that tremble at your slightest breath. They will bring you anything. Your wildest fantasies will come true, do you want the head of your high school teacher? How would you like it? On a stick, a silver platter? Dead and gone, or living and writhing?
Riches, fame, women, men, and everything in between, eternal life in a balmy climate, what will you demand? And when you are sated, what will take it to reawaken hunger? Look around you, from one end of your wretched planet to the other, what meets your eyes? Rapidly diminishing loveliness? Excellent. Your species doesn’t deserve it.
The nihilistic, deluded, naked human body, utterly united for once, in hot pursuit of the ugly. The ethic which can’t even be named, so dreadful is its aspect. You’re the worst monster the world has ever seen, so what is left? Shock value, where will you find it? The Romans in hell applaud your modern world.
“But wait!” You cry out, “this is a mistake, I’m a good Christian/Jew/Muslim/Buddhist/Pagan, I could never be the devil. No, I fight the devil! This is all a mistake, I can’t do those sorts of things to anyone, I’m a peaceful person, with a good heart.”
You might even believe this. But remember, you are the devil. You will be laughing before you finish that sentence. Fangs will grow in, your claws will extend, you’ll have the most perfect tail, a work of art I assure you, and nothing like you picture it. You can pick your horns. Where will you fly first? Whoever you are, this will be your favourite part. Enjoy it. What blood will you choose to inaugurate your reign? What persecutions will you set in motion?
You will do your job. Stalk the hideous streets and make them worse. What will surprise you is how familiar it will feel.
“Architecture” by Manor