“The angel called out to me by name, and implored me to not enter the castle. He told me it was the house of the devil, and that of the ten students chosen, one would have to stay behind and be sent to hell as payment for the lessons. The angel was certain I would be the one to make good on the debt, and he urged me to reclaim my horse and ride away from the castle that very moment.”
“Did you leave?” I asked, caught up in her remarkable tale.
“I was eager to become more powerful, but I did not want to give my soul to the devil. I agreed to leave with the angel. As I turned to retrieve my horse, the door of the castle swung open. The servant I spoke with was there again, but this time, he was dressed in the clothing of a gentleman. I realized I had been conversing with the devil himself the entire time.”
At this point I was speechless. The devil? Was she joking with me to make a point?
Elsa sensed my skepticism. “If you decide to continue with your training, you will come to see that there is more to this world than meets the eye. I didn’t believe I would ever stand toe-to-toe with the devil until that day, either.”
“Go on,” I urged.
“The devil asked us both if we would like to come inside for a cup of tea. The angel laughed and said ‘you know very well that I will not walk through those doors.’ ”
“‘Then I will come to you,’ the devil said. I had seen many evil spirits in my time as a shaman, but I had never felt such evil as I did when he approached us. He was standing as close to me as I am to you. By knocking on his door, he said, I had already offered myself to him. The angel replied that he had been watching the school for more than 100 years and knew very well that until I crossed the threshold, I was not subject to the devil’s contract.”
I have to admit, she had captured my attention. I motioned rapidly with my hand to continue.
“To my surprise, the devil asked the angel if he would take a walk with him. I did not know at the time, but it seems that the devil enjoys making deals and negotiations. Testing the intellect of his opponents gives him great pleasure.
“The angel agreed to walk with him, but only if they stayed outside the castle. It was dark now, but a full moon glowed, illuminating the grounds. While waiting for them, I leaned against the tree, listening as the mountains came alive with the sounds of creatures in the area, including wolves. I vowed to myself that I would go to the barn and lock the doors if they didn’t return quickly.
“After a short while, they returned. But at that moment, I had never been so frightened. I had climbed the mountain to the school full of the energy of an ambitious woman in her thirties, with no idea of the true expense of the knowledge I desired. Exposed at the doorway to the devil and his brood, I now understood that some things are too costly to pursue. And furthermore, I had angered the devil by refusing his wish. If he won the argument, what would become of me once I was inside the castle?”
I had the same question burning in my mind and was beginning to imagine all kinds of torture, images straight out of all the late-night horror movies I had seen.
“The devil seemed to enjoy my apprehension, for he grinned broadly and took his time to speak. ‘You are free to leave,’ was all he said, and then he disappeared into the darkness.”
“Is that it? You walked away?”
Elsa was about to finish her story when my doorbell rang. We both looked at each other, wondering who it could be. I shrugged my shoulders and got up to find out.
When I opened the door, Lily was standing outside.
“Where have you been?” she asked, pushing past me. “Why are you blowing me off? You won’t come out, you don’t answer my texts…”
She stopped mid-sentence when she saw Elsa standing inside. Both women grabbed me, each trying to tug me to safety. I yanked free and yelled at them both.
“What is the matter with you two?” I asked, gesturing with my hands