《Devil》Chapter 5 - Déjà vu
Advertisement
History has a way of repeating itself. I've traveled the world many times over. I once told this to my friend Jules while we robbed a vineyard in the French country side. Years later I accompanied a young woman named Nellie around the world for 71 days. I left the day before we completed our trip due to letter sent by another friend. Still, I've seen what the world and its many people have to offer. While there is a certain uniqueness with every place I go and every person I meet, there is always a sense of similarity. This similarity has persisted with me ever since I had first spoken to Eve.
I've seen empires rise and fall. Unjust leaders overthrown by just men. Just leaders betrayed by unjust men. People praised as saviors and heroes one day only to be condemned by the same people the next. It's all the same once you’ve seen it happen on all corners of the world. The first time truly sticks with me. The way she looked at me with untainted eyes. Not hating the mere mention of my name. Then the disgust on her face when she knew. The first time sticks with me, but each one after hurts equal to or greater. That’s because I'm reminded of each one.
History is changed by those who've seek to discredit me. They attributed the worst acts of humanity to my name and those same people attributed the best acts to yours. My Joan is sadly one of history's examples. I ran into a young girl while walking through a garden with two other friends of mine. We were discussing what should be done about the English since they had invaded France. One suggested that the French should drive out the English and the other suggested that the Dauphin should be crowned. That’s when I ran into the young girl, who had overheard our conversation. The girl had taken our discussion to heart and in the following years she worked to make our half formed plan into reality.
Advertisement
I was in the room when the young illiterate farm girl, now 16, told Charles VII to let her lead his army. Her figure seemed to shine as she spoke in front of the royal court. In those moments her figure blended with the Eve of my memories. I supported her claim and managed to convince Charles VII since I was his favorite aid. I helped Joan write her letter to the English detailing our demands and I wrote that she had been sent by you. She carried her banner at Orléans and I stood before her not letting any who wished her harm to pass. She took city after city from the English until her army arrived at Reims where Charles VII was crowned. Soon after during the attack on Paris she was stuck by a crossbow bolt. I carried her off the battlefield so that she could be treated. Shortly after a truce was struck between the two armies.
I spent those few months of peace by her side. Our time together was cut short once the truce was over. Joan was captured by the enemy because I did not accompany her. I waited outside her areas of imprisonment and she would always try to escape. Once she jumped from a tower stretching over ten men. I caught her and we were able to spend a few precious moments in each other's arms before her captors surrounded us. Quickly after she was tried and convicted for heresy by the English. The night before her execution I snuck into her cell.
"You should escape with me."
"They have charged me with heresy and while they did so to discredit me, they are still correct."
She was sitting on the ground chains and cuffs around her arms and legs. I got on my knees and leaned towards grabbing her shoulders.
Advertisement
"They lie about you, please ask me to help you."
"I have fallen in love with you…"
She stared into my eyes and I saw no fear or doubt. I was again reminded of Eve's clear and beautiful eyes. Yes, the only thing in her beautiful eyes was regret.
"I have fallen in love with the Devil and that is heresy. I deserve to be punished."
I had no words for her actions so knowing she would never change her mind I left. The next day I stood in the crowd while they tied her to a pillar and placed firewood at her feet. She looked towards me then asked something of the two men next to her. The two men stood at either side of her and each held up a wooden cross. The fire was lit and she didn’t scream or curse the world. She prayed. She prayed to you…
Once the fire had run its course the executioners raked the coals over to reveal her charred body. Then they proceeded to burn her body twice more and it was reduced to ashes. I carried her ashes and cast her remains into the Seine River. Her enemies tried to rewrite her history, I didn’t let them. I made history remember her for who she was in my eyes. Her figure so dazzling it burned into my eyes. I spread her legend so that others would know her and her accomplishments. I thought I could perhaps prevent such an event from occurring again.
But history has a way of repeating itself.
Hi, so I was going to go with the french revolution (as suggested) and several of the key figures but then I remembered of Joan of Arc. Her story fits here because the Devil is still talking about Eve and how she affected him. I'm not completely sure where I'll add in the stories of revolution but I think I'll include it when Moses meets the Devil. Also other people mentioned here was Jules Verne and Nellie Bly.
Vern is a very influential author and is considered to be one of the fathers of science fiction.
Nellie Bly atually went around the world in 72 days and pioneered a new kind of investigative journalism.
Any other ideas about who the Devil should talk about next?
Thank you for reading.
Advertisement
- In Serial12 Chapters
The Black Unicorn
The Sterile Queen Aveliene, the most feared of the legendary Wraithkillers, has been sent by her step-mother, the Eternal Elba, to look into rumors that the black unicorn has returned. After over a century of war, the Six Worlds lie in ruins, and an ill omen like the black unicorn appearing could mean that the troubles are still not over. A story set in the Six Worlds of Shtar, it takes place during the same time period as Echoes of War, but is a complete, stand-alone work.
8 148 - In Serial9 Chapters
Astral Imperialization
Paused------ Admiral Drake has left for a classified operation with an entire crew dedicated to investigating a planet. Empire’s psychics had spotted an unusual energy signature coming from this planet. Unluckily, asteroid-kun destroyed parts of the ISS Pulsar, thus nearly killing everyone. Fortunately, Drake got promoted thanks to this accident. He’s now the new Imperial Governor of this new planet, Loanose. His new major target? Merely taking control of Loanose and make it a proud example of the Empire’s might. With the help of Alyn, a state-of-the-art AI, and Sylviane, the best political science graduate, they will reform the entire planet's way of life. They will develop a new country using interplanetary logistics, a space station and a good deal of strength. No problem resists a robots’ army and a warmonger psychic. Will Sylviane temper the impatient Drake? There is only one rule left. Abide by the Imperial Regulation and will be considered as an imperial citizen. You will be protected and we’ll offer you means to earn your living. If you threaten the imperial citizens, nobody will save you from the Empire’s wrath! Hope that Drake doesn’t find you before the military arrest you.
8 205 - In Serial34 Chapters
Descendants of a Dead Earth
In the future, Man has traveled the Cosmos. In the future, Man has discovered many other races. In the future...Man has no home. 200 years after the great war that destroyed Earth, humanity struggles to survive; fractured, divided, wanted by no one. Until Maggie, of the Tinker Clan, makes a discovery, setting in motion a chain of events that could change everything.
8 182 - In Serial21 Chapters
I am the Villian
Samson Marcel is an aspiring supervillain with the power to control electricity. He begins robbing banks as a small time villain, and is just now thinking of making his debut. That is, until Mark,his best friend, introduces him to the girl of his dreams. As they grow together, Samson is drawn into a twisted plot involving the Super Squad and a race of aliens who seek to establish earth as a colony. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> This is my first post. It's not the first I've written, but I fully expect to get some crap over grammar or something.
8 116 - In Serial12 Chapters
In a modern world with a game system!!!
In a mordern world like our own, a young boy is walking with his dog trough the forrest arround his village. But nothing would have prepared him for what would happen to him. Follow the adventure of Dan Williams after he was struck by lightning and how it would change his live. This story will be a weekly update
8 52 - In Serial54 Chapters
Eternity's Wake
John lives a moderately succcessful life of many regrets as a middle manager in the guild of sorrows in the VRMMO Eternity's Wake before an untimely betrayal. After tragic consequences, he miraculously reincarnates 15 years in the past. He resolves to do things differently this time and ease the regrets that trouble his heart. Will his knowledge and extra experience be enough, or will his talent not be sufficient to reach the very top of Eternity's Wake? Can he create his own guild successfully or will powerful forces beyond his control prove too much?
8 81

