The Aberrant Sword

by Rebecca Ripley

  Kath bites her lip. “Yes.” She says slowly. I see the sudden understanding in her eyes. A little flame lights up in my chest. Could this be it? Could this be the sword? My heart starts pounding and I almost burst in anticipation waiting for my best friend to come up with an answer.

  “There was one book we looked into yesterday… it is on that pile on the right by the vase full of wilted flowers.” She said, trying to think about what she said. “It spoke of s source that mentioned Michael supposedly riding in on a white stallion and a rainbow but that is…”

  I smile. “exactly what the stupid leprechaun was talking about!” I jump up. Kat looks at me with her wide eyes and then I see her making the same click as I just did.

  ***

  “So…” Kath pauses as she looks up at the chalky white façade of the cathedral. “…Here we are, huh?”

  I swallow hard. If this was where the sword was being kept… it might get dangerous! I put my hand on Kath’s shoulder and squeeze lightly just to say “I am here. Don’t you worry.” I feel a bit of tension leave her body, but not all of it. I am nervous too.

  “Should we go back and… you know, get Daimon?” Kath looked at me. I considered her words for a second and sighed. “I don’t know.” I bit my lip and remembered the man in the fire. Asmodeus. “If he is here, if Asmodeus is as close as we are – closer maybe, we don’t really have any time.” And imagine the look on his face if we just rocked up at the apartment with the sword in hand. Ha! We don’t need his help. We can do this on our own!

  “It only takes 20 minutes to…” She tries. I shake my head. “He would stop us.” She looks at me for a few second and then nods. She knows Daimon wants us to be safe, to keep us away from Asmodeus.

  And that is why I need to do what I am doing next…

  “Thank you for coming anyway Kath.” I say. “But I think it is best for you to take a step back.”

  Silence.

  Kath turns towards me, her eyes full of fire. She was angry. “Are you telling me I am not good enough for this?” her arm flails towards the entrance of the cathedral. “That stupid stumbling Kath is better off at home?” she pants angrily.

  I shake my head rapidly, trying to calm my friend down. “No, no!” I try to get a grip on her arm, her hand but she shakes me off. “I just would not forgive myself if you would get hurt, if something would happen to you, if…”

  Kath snorts and shakes her head. “And you think I would be able to forgive MYself when something happens to YOU?” I throw my arms around her. “Oh, you silly cow.” I say as she hugs me back.

  “Whatever you say, I am not going to let you go in there on your own.” I can see a tear in the corner of her eye when she pulls away. “The past couple of days I have felt more of a hunter as during all these past years of rigorous training!” She smiles softly. In fact, these few days showed me that hunting is not all about muscle…they showed me that I am enough…” she says.

  “You have always been enough. Don’t ever doubt that” I smile at her. “Now let’s kick some demon ass and get that sword!”

  Chapter 15

  We entered the cathedral via a side entrance hidden by a wild growth of Wisteria. It’s the entrance the council would take for their yearly rites and feasts held at the cathedral.

  The door creaks open and I feel the warmth of the cathedral stroke my cheeks. I had forgotten how cold the February air was until I opened the door.

  We walked through the dark hallway while my hands were looking for the door at the end. I feel the cold knob at my fingertips, and I turn the handle.

  I feel elated. I know we are close to the sword; I know this is going to happen. I know that we are going to save humanity – hell, maybe even the world, from Asmodeus.

  The cathedral itself was empty and dark. The last tourists would have left at least three hours ago. The magnitude of the building is awe-inspiring.

  “We are closed.” A voice came from the front of the cathedral. In the back, an elderly man was taking care of a plant by the offering block. “I am sorry, but you will have to leave.”

  I took a few steps towards him and held up my hand. “We are the children of Michael.” I said. “We come in peace.”

  A smile appeared on the old man’s face. “It is a pleasure to meet you.” He said. “My name is David.” He stretched out his long and bony hand which I took.

  “We are here to look around.” I lied.

  “We are looking for a sword.” Kath said.

  I tried to elbow my friend, but the face of the priest had already changed expression. Worry was flickering in his eyes. Or was it fear?

  “I am afraid that it is very late, ladies.” The priest tried, his hands outstretched, ushering us back to the door.

  Kath’s eyes flashed to mine. He was scared. He was trying to get us out of here.

  “I am sorry, but we just wanted to have a look around.” I smiled at the man. The old priest looked over his shoulders to something in the distance. The sword maybe? Or was it another priest?

  I took a few steps back, trying not the spook the man. Both Kath and I knew well enough that our kind was awarded with what I could only describe as fairly unrestricted access to the cathedral. I tried again: “I promise that we won’t stay long. Just in and out.”

  I saw a hint of hesitation in the man’s eyes and decided to use it to force his hand. “Thank you, you won’t regret it.” I said quickly while I turned away and pulled Kath – dumbstruck at what just happened, towards the crypt.

  “We don’t have long.” I hissed at my best friend. “That old man did not seem very comfortable with us here and if he gets the bishop…” I saw in her eyes that she knew what I meant.

  The bishop was a friend of my father’s. He knew me – and he knew very well that my father would not have sent me to the cathedral without informing him first. If the bishop finds out that we are here, we would be on our way back to Hampshire sooner than we can say Sword.

  The metal of the gates to the crypt feels cold against my skin. I feel nerves shoot through my body like aimless projectiles. My hand is shaking as I turn the knob on the door behind the ornate gate.

  I don’t really know my way around the crypt and have no idea where to start looking for an age-old artefact – an important one for that! The damp air hits us in the face. It smells like dust and cobwebs and the air feels slightly warm on my cheeks.

  I take the first few steps down the dark stairs before I use the torch of my phone to guide our way down. My footsteps thumped on the black and white marble floor. “Nelson’s Tomb” Kath whispered.

  I looked around and flicked the switch at the panel besides the staircase. “You take the right wing; I’ll take the left.” I whispered to Kath.

  If I was hiding a valuable sword… where would I store it? I let my eyes slide over the eerie looking marble statues. I tried to make out if one of them was holding a sword – or something that could pass for a sword. But I realised the statues had been far too young to contain our artefact or any clues as to where it could be hidden. They could not be much older than 19th century.

  My fingers slide over the cold marble as I wreck my brain where the sword could be. Maybe it was somewhere else? Maybe it was…

  And that is when I heard a soft thud and a piercing scream. Kath! She was in trouble? Did she find the sword? Or maybe the old man came back?

  I hurried to the other side of the crypt worrying about Kath when I noticed the tall man standing nonchalantly over a cowering Kathrine. “I was hoping I would find you here.” He says as he turns around.

  Asmodeus.

  It has to be him. I remember his eyes, his posture, I remember him from when he exited the fireplace at O’ Dougherty’s. And even though it has not been confirmed that this, in fact, is arch baddie Asmodeus, the knot in my stomach and my red glowing necklace tells me I’m right.

  The man towers over me. His dark hair is tied back, and his fine suit weirdly clashes with his long fingernails. I
glance at Kathy scrambling back into a corner. Her big eyes never leave the man in front of her.

  A little smile plays around the corners of his mouth. “A little birdie told me about a sword and…” he looks around, theatrically almost. “Where best to start than the Hunter’s Temple, Saint Paul’s Cathedral?”

  He wrings his hands and takes a few steps forward as if admiring the marble statues. My heart is racing in my chest, but I do not budge. Taking a step backwards shows weakness. I need to be strong. I need to show him what we are made off.

  “And then obviously my good Irish friend was – after extensive questioning – able to tell me that two young hunters were also looking for the sword.” His eyes land on me. The red irises burning into my soul. Don’t blink, don’t blink, don’t blink.

  “You do know what sword I am talking about, do you?” He asks me. His tone is sweet as honey. So sweet indeed, it raises the hair on my arms.

  I keep my mouth shut. I do not want to interact with him, I don’t want to give him ammunition.

  “You are not a big talker, are you?” He says as he circles me. I close my eyes and think fast. How can Kath and I get out of here? How can we get out of here AND make sure Asmodeus does not find the sword before we do?

  The tall man stops. “You know… You do remind me of someone…” he says as taps his index finger on his chin. “Her name is on the tip of my tongue.” He starts snapping his fingers as if to make himself remember. The man does have a flair for the theatrical. “Bridget Whitelock!” He smiles. “That’s it. You have her eyes. And…” He looks at me up and down. “Her stubbornness.”

  He claps his hands together. “Too bad she ‘disappeared’” He air quoted. “It’s not as if she was a good Council Master anyway. I head there’s better people looking to step up in the future.”

  I now have to bite my tongue not to blurt out something stupid, something that would make him grab me by the throat. Because oh boy, I have some choice words for this big ass!

  “Anyway girls.” He smiles his sweet smile again. “Enough pleasantries. I would now like to ask you where the sword is so we can get this over with. If you tell me now, I might even let you live.” He laughed at his own joke.

  I saw Kathy move in the corner. It looked like she was trying to get up, trying to muster the courage to attack the powerful demon in front of me. She should know better. I had near perfect scores on the physical part of my exam and even I would not dare fight this… this… monster!

  I try shaking my head at her, opening my eyes wide to stop her. But it was too late. With a deafening scream and an almost animal like fastness she throws herself onto Asmodeus, plunging a dagger into his back.

  For a few heartbeats nothing happened. I hold my breath and locked eyes with Kathrine who was still standing behind Asmodeus, panicking as the floor did not open, as there was no smell of sulphur, as Asmodeus was not sent back to hell.

  Angry red flames dance in his eyes. He turns around slowly. I swallow when I see the maniacal grin on his face. Kathy falls back. Her legs had folded underneath her and she now scrambles back to the cold marble wall.

  He was mad. He is a raving lunatic. Asmodeus pulled the knife out of his back with an angry tug. Within a few measured steps he is standing in front of a now crying Kathy. His hand flash towards her and the next time I blink he is holding my best friend up against the wall by her throat.

  “Look what you made me do…” He says softly. “All I asked for was the sword.” He moans. He turns his head towards me. “But you girls wanted to be heroes so badly.” He throws me a sad smile.

  Kathy’s face is now a deep shade red. Her legs are flailing against the wall, trying to hit him in the crotch – or anywhere at all.

  I lunge forward, my left hand unsheathing the knife in my ankle strap. I’m going to get him. I’m going to kill this bastard. I am going to… two strong arms grabbed me by my waist and pulled me backwards while black rabid shapes ran past me.

  The air was knocked out of my lungs as I smash against the wall, my fall broken by another body. I can taste the metallic taste of blood where I bit the inside of my cheek when I fell into the wall.

  My blood was boiling. This coward brought his friends. He wants to play dirty? Not on my watch!

  I swing around, the knife in my hand raised high, ready to strike, when I see the dark brown eyes of the girl we met at Gordon’s. Another shape rushes past me, hit my arm and made me lose my balance.

  What was happening? Slowly I looked over my shoulder. A heaving heap of bodies was punching and fighting Asmodeus. The grand demon was holding up two demons by their necks while he kicked a third.

  A large man with raven black hair lunged a dagger into Asmodeus’ side. The demon laughed heartily. “Do you really think you can defeat me with your puny little dagger, walker?” He bared his teeth as he dropped the two demons and pulled the knife out of his side. “You mind if I keep this?”

  Asmodeus slaps another walker to the wall and then his eyes locked with mine.

  He grinned.

  Smiled even.

  And then he waved. It was a small little wave. If the wave wasn’t coming from him, I might have called it cute. “When they die, know that it was your fault, sweetie.” A disembodied voice whispers in my ear. I look around bit I am all by myself. There’s nobody around.

  A bright light seeped through cracks in the floor and then he was gone. The bad guy was gone. Thank god!

  I sighed and took a few steps towards Kathy, glad we survived this, glad these guys came to our help.

  And that is when I noticed an absolutely furious Daimon staring at me from the other side of the room.

  Chapter 16

  “Do you have any idea what you got yourself into?” We were back in the little apartment and both Kathy and I had been getting lecture after lecture after screaming match about what had happened in the crypt.

  I look out over the little London roofs. It was cold outside, but I needed some air. I needed to cool down.

  “I thought we handled ourselves pretty well.” I snapped at Daimon. He laughed. It was a laugh out of pure desperation. “Honestly, if…” He wiped his face, choosing his frustrated words carefully. “If I had not put a tail on you and miss smarty-pants here, you would have been dead.”

  When I found out Daimon had us followed, I flipped. I felt betrayed. I had hoped that Daimon saw me for who I was, for my potential. Instead he had made sure I was followed, that I had a babysitter… that my every move was reported back to him.

  I feel a pang of anger gripping my stomach again. I am ready to burst, ready to… Stupid bloody demon. I should never have trusted him. I should have just done this on my own.

  “Do you have any idea what that was like for me?” He yelled. “What it would have done to me if I had lost you?” His eyes are flaming red. He was mad. He was really mad.

  “What do you care?” I yelled back; hands clenched in fists. “You’re just a stupid demon!”

  I was sorry I said it the moment those words left my lips. I could see the hurt creeping over his face. He shakes his head softly. Massive black wings unfold behind him. I hear the rustle of feathers and then the man in front of me was gone.

  Great.

  “That did not go too well.”

  I turn around. The girl from the crypt has her head poking out of the window through which we climbed onto the little flat roof. I scowl and make my way back inside.

  “He does care about you, you know.” She says matter-of-factly.

  I sigh. Partly because I know, and partly because this is not a conversation I want to have right now. I felt bad enough for screaming those words. I don’t want anyone else to make me feel like the absolute shitty fool I am.

  “Come, I’ll make you a hot chocolate.” The girl in the window says. I give her a weak smile and follow her through to Gustav’s small kitchen. Kathy and Gustav had been buried deep in piles of papers and old books for the past few hours.

  Kathy
had been pretty shaken after what had happened in the Crypt, but Gustav helped her to calm down. With books, history and a couple of chocolate eclairs, my best friend swiftly got a hold of herself again.

  “I know he’s not one of the easiest people to get along with.” The girl says as she pours some microwaved milk over the cocoa. “But he’s a good guy.” She smiles as she hands me the hot cup.

  “Thanks.” I mumble. I know Daimon is not a bad guy. But I don’t know if I can forgive him for what he did. I’m a hunter. I don’t need a babysitter. Especially not a Demon!

  “I know it might come across a bit stupid…” she starts again. “But he just did it to protect you.” She takes the coffee pot out of the percolator and empties it in the last clean mug on the counter. “He…” She starts. For a moment I thought she had abandoned the thought, but then she started again.

  “He lost someone.” She took the water cooker off its stand and poured the rest of it in her mug. “We all did.” She says.

  I bit my tongue as the remorse grabbed me by the throat.

  “His sister she… she was a force not the be reckoned with.” The girl smiled at the memory. “But she had a heart of gold.”

  I take a small sip of my hot chocolate.

  “She was one of the first that started to create a walker community. We were pretty much solitary, you know. There aren’t many people you can trust in our lives. We’re pariahs. Not all demons will want us dead, but the hardliners wouldn’t blink an eye to kill one of us and send us back to the pit. We’re deserters in their eyes.”

  I swallow hard. Until a few days ago, my view of the world was pretty black and white. Demons are black, hunters are white. There was no grey. Sure, there were hunters who were evil – or at least incredibly unpleasant, but I never saw them as such. Just like I never considered there to be good demons. I was wrong.

  I felt another pang of grief in my stomach as I remembered my grandmother and her tales of good and evil. She was convinced that the lines between good and even were not strictly straight. They were jagged, running into each other, overlapping like two forest streams joining.