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This story was written for my Literature and music class Senior year of High School. Of course... to protect my identity my name has been changed. Enjoy.

The Eternal Judiciary

Mephistopheles paced his palace. Damn, he thought, This is not working out as I planned. There has to be a way…Suddenly Michael appeared. Mephistopheles glanced at him then stopped pacing. Pacing shows weakness. I can’t show weakness.

"Michael," he acknowledged coldly as he lit a cigarette. Michael was always defiant of him. He was favored and revolted against the Creator. Michael was always second to him.

"The Almighty said that you know of the problem…"

"Who doesn’t. His precious Peter has become sloppy in his job and let some souls that should rightfully have been mine into the pearly gates of heaven," Mephistopheles said sarcastically, "So now a new judge is needed."

"There is a girl—"

"Yes. Scheduled to die in one hour in a car accident. Seventeen. Jersey City. Jausserande Shadowstar. For the Creator, he does a lot of destruction…"

"Then she will be the one," Michael said coldly.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

I walked across Kennedy Boulevard quickly and glanced at my watch. Damn. 6:15PM. I’m gonna be late for my appointment with my literary agent. I need to catch the PATH train in one minute, I thought to myself. I never saw the car swerve down the street and hit me. One second I was walking across the street. The next, I was standing in an emerald forest. Suddenly a huge green dragon appeared.

"You are Jausserande Shadowstar."

"Yes."

"You are uncommonly fair and a good judge of human character. You are chosen as Judiciary."

"What are you talking about?" I demanded.

"You, my dear, are dead. I am Azurai the Eternal Keeper of Fate."

"But you are a dragon… Dragons are real?" He smiled. At least I thought it was a smile.

"Of course. Everything is real… or interpretations of the same. I am to be your Guide until you get the hang of things. As Judiciary, you will help to decide the Fates of the departed souls. There are two things you must remember, time is relative and everything is real. Shall we start the proceedings?"

"Yes. We can’t just sit around here all day."

"Time is relative," he said smiling.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

After what seemed like hours, I finally understood the rules of the court. I sat in my chair awaiting my first case. Azurai stood next to me as an advisor. I watched the two little children, their parents and the witch walk in. Azurai looked each one over. I learned that Azurai had the power to look into people’s souls and read them like a book.

"Madame Judiciary, I present to you Hansel and Gretel, their parents, Peter and Gertrude, and the Witch Crone Rosina Daintymouth. I’m sure you are familiar with the story but if not, there is the Book of Days," Azurai said. The Book of Days is the one book that records all in everyone’s life, past present and future and can only be looked upon by a handful of people in all creation.

"But Hansel and Gretal are fictional characters…"

"Everything is real."

"I see. A case of murder and domestic tragedy. Children are the light of the world and therefore must be taken care of. Nevertheless, a parent should never send a child away—even in a fit of anger. I have reached a decision." Azurai smiled.

"Will the parties please step forward," Azurai said softly.

"’In tragedy and despair, when an endless night seems to have fallen, hope can be found in the realization that the companion of night is not another night, that the companion of night is day, that darkness always gives way to light, and that death rules only half of creation, life the other half.’ Dean Koontz. Lightning. Since each of you are guilty in all the various shades of guilt, I will decide your fates separately. Witch Crone Rosina Daintymouth, you are to be sent to the farthest depths of Hell. The innocence of children should not be marred by your plots." Suddenly with a shriek of agony, the witch vanished from the court.

"Oh God!" Gertrude exclaimed.

"And you, Gertrude, have sent your children alone and unprotected into the forest to fend for themselves knowing that there were dangers. But, since you were not in a clear state of mind at the time of this crime, you are to spend five months in purgatory before you can go to heaven. Think about that while you are in purgatory." Gertrude vanished quietly.

"Madame, do what you will with me but please—my children," Peter said carefully.

"You, sir, are guilty only of drinking. You had no knowledge of the events until it was too late. You may enter heaven with your children. I’ll ignore the crimes committed by them only because it was in self-defense," I said looking at him. Suddenly music came out of nowhere as they vanished from the room.

"You did a great job. You made the right decisions. Shall we take the next case?"

"Time is relative. Sure, why not."

"You are learning."

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

"Madame Judiciary, I present to you Adina, Nemorino and Duclcamara. This is the case of The Elixir of Love, sold by Doctor Duclcamara. This doctor sold his elixir to Nemorino claiming that it will bring him the love of Adina. Adina accepted Nemorino’s proposal only after learning that he had inherited a fortune from his uncle." A young woman walked in with a young man and an older man.

"’He whom one loves never does anything wrong.’ An African Proverb. Nemorino you may enter heaven. ‘The breath of heaven is everywhere Trust is’ Anonymous." Nemorino vanished with the spectral music I began to associate with heaven.

"See my elixir assures a place in heaven for all who buy it," the doctor said suddenly. Azurai smiled amused by this.

"Doctor, you are a little conniving imp. You dare to enterprise from the naivete of Nemorino for your personal gain. You are sentenced to five years in purgatory." The doctor vanished from the court.

"Madame, wise decision," Azurai commented.

"As for Adina, since you did atone for your betrayal and do truly love Nemorino you may make to journey to heaven."

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Mephistopheles sat by the mirror. He had been watching the girl’s performance in court. A fair judge. I never thought I’d ever see such a thing, he thought quietly, This was going to be interesting. The Creator appeared.

"Do you ever knock?" Mephistopheles said annoyed.

"What are you up to?"

"You’ll see."

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Azurai opened the Book of Days and glanced at a page. "Madame Judiciary, I present to you a very confusing incident between Fiordiligi, Dorabella, Despina, Ferrando, Guglielmo and Don Alfonso. It seems that Don Alfonso felt that women cannot be trusted and convinced Ferrando and Guglielmo to test their fiancées, Fiordiligi and Dorabella, with the help of Despina."

"Wow a quick case. If you truly love someone, you should not test him or her. ‘To err is human, to forgive divine.’ Alexander Pope. An Essay of Criticism. You four are permitted to enter the heaven. Despina and Don Alfonso are sentenced to three weeks in purgatory for their meddling." The six vanished as I ignored the music.

"Your next case is another domestic problem concerning trust and very much plotting. This is the case of the Marriage of Figaro. Here are Figaro, Susanna and the Count and Countess. I believe you are familiar with the events in question," Azurai said as the parties appeared.

"Oh dear! ‘Open the window that the lies may fly out.’ Grimm’s Complete Fairy Tales. Count, you are to spend three days in purgatory for betraying your wife. Figaro, Susanna and Countess, you are permitted to enter heaven." They too vanished with the ethereal music.

"You are doing fine."

"What is the difference between Heaven, Hell and Purgatory?"

"State of mind. Everything is as each individual perceives it. It would be hard to create a utopia when everyone sees things differently. Only the dragons and a select few can see how things really are. Your next case is the case of the (Lucia di Lammermoor) Bride of Lammermoor. This is Lucia, Edgardo and Enrico. This case is worse than that thing with Romeo and Juliet." The parties entered silently.

"Someone once told be ‘Murder can be an act of love.’ Lucia and Edgardo since you were not in the right state of mind at the time you committed your crimes you both are to spend three months in purgatory to atone for your crimes. Crimes committed by a need for revenge however are inexcusable. Enrico, you are sentenced to enter the gates of hell." They all vanished at the same time leaving an atonal song of screams and heavenly music that sent chills down my back.

"Here’s yet another crime of love and passion. I give you Medea, Jason and Glaucis. A horrid crime."

"Medea, you have murdered your own children and the innocent Glaucis. Your rage cannot excuse you of these crimes you are to be sent to the farthest ends of hell. Jason you have promised yourself to Medea then left her in Thessaly. You are sentenced to seven months in purgatory. Glaucis, you may enter heaven." As they vanished I looked at the Book of Days and turned to the future.

"For a change of pace, Orpheus and Euridice, it seems that despite warnings he has looked back of her as they were about to leave the underworld. He wants a second chance."

"Second chance? No. He knew the terms of the agreement. A contract is a contract. She is to return to heaven and he is to return to Earth. They will be reunited on his death."

"In this next case (The Troubadour), Count di Luna, Manrico, Leonora and Azucena are involved in a strange case of a twist of fate. Manrico and the Count are brothers and rivals for Leonora but Azucena hide the secret of their relation until it was too late."

"Leonora is to be sent to heaven. Azucena, although you have kidnapped Manrico, you also raise him well. You are to spend four months in purgatory. As for Manrico, you are perhaps one of the bravest fools I’ve ever met. You may continue on to heaven. Count, you however must earn forgiveness. So on that note, you are sentenced to three years in purgatory."

"This is your last case for now, the parties are Princess Turandot, Liù and Calaf. Turandot made a test of three riddles for anyone who wishes to marry her to pass or forfeit his life. Calaf passed and offered his life to her if she can guess his name by dawn."

"Liù, young and foolish, you have ended your life by risking it to protect Calaf’s father. You may enter heaven as your motives were not selfish. Calaf, you too may enter heaven. Turandot, you however have caused the death of many for means for your cruelty. You are to spend seven years in purgatory. ‘Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.’ Alexander Pope. An Essay on Criticism." As they vanished I started to rise to leave when suddenly I heard a commotion. Suddenly Three men entered the room arguing.

"Madame, I give you Mephistopheles, Dr. Faust and the Angel Michael," Azurai said flatly.

"’Titles are shadow, crowns are empty things, the good of subjects is the end of kings.’ Daniel Defoe. The True-Born Englishman," Mephistopheles said with a smile.

"I am familiar with that quote. Thank you very much. Now what is the problem?" I said exasperated.

"Dr. Faust has broken our contract with his meddling," Mephistopheles said gesturing at Michael.

"Dr. Faust has atoned for his wrong doings!" Michael said glaring at Mephistopheles.

"Silence!" I said annoyed, "Faust did you sign the contract?"

"Yes."

"Case closed. You can’t back out of a contract. Mephistopheles has fulfilled his end of the deal so you must fulfill yours. Faust you must spend all eternity in Hell as a servant to Mephistopheles." Mephistopheles laughed. With a fury of flames, Mephistopheles and Faust vanished. Michael vanished bowing his head.

"You are a wise Judiciary."

"How much time has passed?"

"Time is relative."

"How much time has passed?"

"Five minutes since the accident. Perhaps you can learn more… Yes, you are to be sent back to Earth."

"What?" I asked but it was too late. Everything blurred then, I found myself staring at the face of a paramedic. I was lying on the street in a pool of blood. Suddenly, the pain hit.

"She’s alive let’s get her to the hospital," he said.

"Where am I?" I asked surprised at the weakness of my voice. Suddenly everything blacked out.