The Symphony of Death

by Matthew Newson

  “Baby no, please!” Tiffany cried out. “What happened to him in there?”

  “I don’t know, but he’s dying.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Paul Luca,

  The Man Wrapped in Darkness

  Williams Point, New York

  The Forgotten Town of Paradise

  I RAISED ALEC’S HEAD up to try and keep his airway clear as the blood he coughed up began to run down both sides of his mouth. I commanded my darkness to try and close the wound, but the damage was beyond the threshold of my abilities. At most I bought him a few extra minutes of life in the natural world. It wasn’t like last time when he was in a coma connected to machines that sustained him. That time there was nothing I could do but hold my friend, my brother, as he lived his final moments with his fiancée by his side. I felt as helpless as I did the night my family died.

  “Jesus, please don’t let him die. Oh God, please come and save my brother,” I prayed.

  “What are you doing?” screamed Tiffany as she watched the darkness proceed from me and reside over Alec’s stab wound. “We have to call for help!”

  We were miles away from the nearest hospital, and even if we called, I knew no one was getting to Alec in time. I wasn’t about to tell Tiffany that. “I’m trying to save his life, but I only have afforded him a few more minutes. I’m sorry, but there’s nothing more I can do for him.”

  “How do you know that, and who do you think you are? Why aren’t you calling for help?” Tiffany pulled out her phone. “God no! I don’t have any service.”

  Before I could respond, Alec raised his hand and gently caressed her face. He lovingly looked into Tiffany’s eyes. “It’s okay, babe. You have made these last few months the best months of my life. I will always love you.”

  Tiffany looked angry and concerned all at the same time. “No, please don’t say that. You’re going to be fine, okay. You’re going to be fine. Now, don’t talk like that anymore, Alec.”

  The tears began to flow freely from Tiffany as she kissed Alec on his forehead and held his hand in hers.

  “I will never be far away from you my love.” Alec said.

  Tears filled my eyes, and I clenched my teeth. This was too hard even for me to bear.

  “Jesus, please come now and save Alec!”

  After everything he and I been through, and in spite of all the power I possessed, I couldn’t stop his fate that came like lightening out of Heaven.

  Alec turned to me and smiled. “Is it over? Did we win?”

  “Yes, it’s over.”

  As I watched the life slip from Alec’s body, I became angry at him for trying to take on Death, but in the end, it was my fault.

  “I’m sorry brother. This is all my fault.”

  “No.”

  “Yes, it is. Why did you go in there? You shouldn’t have done that.”

  Alec looked at peace as he smiled with a face covered in blood. “Because it was what you would have done. I don’t even know how I stopped him. Death stabbed me in the stomach as soon as I ran in, and then something dissolved all the flesh off him until he was just a skeleton. Then he disappeared after I told him to go back to Hell in the name of Jesus.”

  Alec struggled with each breath, and his eyelids became heavy. The end was near as I cried out one more time. “Jesus please, please come and save my brother!”

  “Paul?” Alec asked. “When I get to Heaven can I meet your family? I want to thank them for letting you be away from them while you helped me.”

  “Of course, you can. It would be my honor to take you to meet them. Faith has wanted to meet you since the day I was assigned to you, and my boys would love nothing more than to meet their uncle.”

  “I hear my mother, Paul. I hear her calling me to come home.”

  Tiffany wept hysterically. “Alec, it’s okay, I will always love you. You’re going to be okay.”

  Alec turned to face her one last time.

  He tried to respond, but instead breathed his last and his eyes closed.

  I watched as Alec’s spirit departed from his body, and at that moment something snapped inside of me I didn’t think could ever be repaired.

  I laid Alec’s head on Tiffany’s lap, and stood and withdrew my sword. That night, all of Hell would feel my wrath as I kicked down its gates to find whatever hole Death was hiding in and exact vengeance upon him for what he had done to Alec. I would obliterate any demon who stood in my way, and when I was finished, I’d find Lucifer and destroy him all over again.

  “Where are you going?” asked Tiffany.

  “To settle the score.”

  “Who are you?”

  “That doesn’t matter anymore.”

  “But you can’t be Paul. And how are we going to get out of here? You can’t just leave us.”

  “I’m someone of no consequence, and I’ll send someone for you.”

  As I started to walk away, a bright tunnel of light opened up in front of me and stopped me dead in my tracks. I raised my sword, ready to face anything that stepped out of the portal.

  “Someone of no consequence. Now, that’s not a true statement. Matter of fact, nothing could be further from the truth,” Jesus said as he stepped out of the tunnel.

  Tiffany jumped and then...fainted.

  I looked back as I heard the thump of her hitting the ground. “Is that your doing?” I asked Jesus.

  “It would appear the stress of tonight was too much for her. After all, she was abducted by the devil, witnessed a battle of spirit beings in the natural realm. If that wasn’t enough, she then had to watch her fiancé die right in front of her eyes. It’s amazing she lasted this long through it all, but as you know she is a fighter. Now tell me, Man Wrapped in Darkness, what are you getting ready to go do?”

  “Please, no more questions or parables. You know full well what I’m going to do.” A growl rumbled in my chest until it broke free in an angry roar. “I’m going to make them all pay for what they’ve done here tonight!”

  Jesus nodded. “You’re about to storm Hell itself and pour out your wrath on all of its inhabitants to get to Lucifer and Death and make them suffer until you had your fill. Am I correct?”

  “That about sums it up.”

  “So, it’s revenge I take it? Trust me when I say this, Paul. Revenge doesn’t suit you. Haven’t you learned that lesson by now?”

  “Call it justice then.”

  Again, Jesus nodded in acknowledgment of my answer. “I pity any demonic being that gets in your way tonight, but you and I both know this isn’t justice. I’m the only righteous and just judge, so before you go charging off, will you tell me what has you so upset?”

  I turned and pointed my sword at Alec’s dead body “Right there! Do you see him? Alec is dead because I failed to protect him. He was my responsibility and I let Death run him through like a stuck pig.”

  Jesus lovingly looked at Alec’s body on the ground behind me. “But if you wouldn’t have stopped Lucifer, then he would have surely killed Alec and Tiffany here this evening.”

  “Yes, well, I got knocked out when I cut Lucifer’s head off. Then Alec ran in there like a fool to try and save the day.”

  Jesus scowled and aggressively stepped toward me. “That’s enough! You cut off Lucifer’s head which caused a massive release of demonic energy which tossed you into that wall and rendered you unconscious. If Alec wouldn’t have stepped into that chamber, everyone and everything would be dead on this planet. He wasn’t acting foolishly. He was being brave in the face of literal Death. What’s foolish is one man thinking he can take on all of Hell by himself. You have eyes to see, but what you have failed to observe is that battling Death was always Alec’s fight and not yours.”

  Jesus’s words cut me to the quick, and I placed my sword back in its sheath. He was right, it was foolish to think I could take on all of Hell alone, and I kicked myself for running on my emotions.

  “Please forgive me Jesus, I acted out of anger. I’m sorry.
Is Alec in Heaven now?”

  “I forgive you, and he is in Heaven right now. As we speak, he’s about to receive his reward for his defeat of Death.” Jesus said.

  “How did he do that, Lord? I asked him before he died, and he said he had no idea how he hurt Death. He probably was delusional. He’d lost a lot of blood by that point. I tried to use my darkness to save him, but he was too far gone. I couldn’t save my brother.”

  Jesus patted me on the shoulder and smiled as he walked past me and stood at the feet of Alec’s body.

  “After Alec was stabbed, his blood began to swirl around the chamber.”

  “What do you mean swirl around the chamber?” I asked.

  “The vacuum from the large turbine engines created a wind tunnel in the chamber which caused Alec’s blood to go all around inside. When his blood hit Death it ate away his human form until all that was left was his original skeleton being. The way he’s supposed to look.”

  Jesus’s answer left me with more questions than it had answered.

  “I still don’t follow you, Jesus. How did his blood do that? His blood isn’t like yours.”

  “You’re right, Alec’s blood is not like mine. But when he gave his life to try and stop Lucifer’s plan he unknowingly tapped into a spiritual truth.”

  “Which one is that?” I asked.

  Jesus walked around and knelt beside Alec’s blood-stained face.

  “Isn’t it obvious? My word says that no man shows greater love than to lay down his life for his friend. Alec didn’t just lay his life down for you and Tiffany, but for the whole world without even a second thought.”

  “Yes, he did, Lord. Alec has always cared for others more than himself. It was one of the many things I admired about him. He always went the extra mile for anyone, even if he didn’t know them.”

  “He was a good man, my son,” Jesus said.

  Tears filled my eyes as I felt the pain from the loss of my brother, and from the pride I had for what he had done by giving his life so all could be saved. The whole world would never know the sacrifice he had made that day, but I and all of Heaven would know and remember.

  “Please answer me this then, Jesus. If his actions were so noble than why didn’t you save him when he was in the chamber. Why did you let me and Tiffany watch him die as I repeatedly called out to you? I just... I just need to know. Was this supposed to be his end? Because if this is how you intended for him to go then I’ll have to be at peace with that.”

  Jesus gently brushed Alec’s hair to the side and used the edge of his robe to wipe away the blood from the sides of his mouth and off his face.

  “I don’t mind you asking at all. Alec was born to fight and defeat Death, and I wasn’t going to take that from him. It wasn’t my will for you and Tiffany to watch him die. I’m not a sadist, but if I would have intervened when you called me, then Alec would have been denied his reward. Now the time has come for him to receive it.”

  “What are you talking about Jesus?”

  Jesus took Alec’s hand. “Alec, come forth.”

  After Jesus spoke those words, Alec’s eyes shot open, and he breathed in deep as he looked around.

  “Where am I? This isn’t Heaven? How did I get back here? Oh no, Tiffany!”

  I almost couldn’t believe my eyes as Alec returned back to life at Jesus’s command. I had seen the Lord perform many miracles since I became The Man Wrapped in Darkness, but I was still amazed every time he sovereignly moved.

  “She’s fine, Alec,” Jesus said.

  “What happened, Jesus?”

  “You gave your life to defeat Lucifer and Death’s plan to destroy all life on Earth, and so I have given you your life back as your reward.”

  Alec looked at The Life Giver behind Jesus. “I’m sorry my family ever made that machine. What are we going to do with it now?” Alec asked.

  Jesus turned and looked at the machine, and then back at Alec.

  “That’s a great question, Alec.”

  Then Jesus looked up to the sky as fire came down from Heaven and consumed the machine. As soon as it was done, the fire returned to Heaven leaving no trace of the machine or any evidence that it was even there.

  “Well that takes care of that,” Jesus said.

  “Things can’t continue on like this, Jesus. Unless you intervene permanently, Lucifer is going to keep coming for Alec and his company. Only you know how many terrible devices Lucifer had Alec’s company develop that are hidden around the various departments and buildings.” I said.

  Jesus never looked worried as he proceeded to answer my question. “You’re right, Paul. Lucifer was at work for a long time in Alec’s company, and there is a lot more to uncover. I guess it’s a good thing I decided to let you stay with Alec for the time being.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Simple. You are going to stay with Alec until there are no traces left of Lucifer having anything to do with the Williams Industries, and I wouldn’t worry about Lucifer coming back after the two of you for a while. You dealt him a crushing blow when you cut his head off, Paul. All of Hell saw you do that by the way, I made sure of that. Lucifer is so humiliated that he’s not going to risk another crushing defeat at the hands of Alec and The Man Wrapped in Darkness by his side. Besides, Lucifer is going to have his hands full with what’s coming for him next.”

  “So, I’m staying then?”

  “Yes, I hope that’s okay with you,” Jesus said.

  “Yes, I would like to stay and continue to watch over my brother. But I thought when this was all done, I would go home to Heaven and be with my family.”

  “And you can see them whenever you like, but they have their assignments as well. Your sons are just as fierce as their father, if not more so. You trained them, and as long as you’re here Lucifer will keep his distance from Alec. I’m sure he doesn’t want you removing his head again.”

  I turned to Alec and saw him next to Tiffany as he gently tried to wake her. He seemed utterly oblivious to the conversation Jesus and I just had.

  “Hey Alec, looks like I’m going to be hanging around with you for a while,” I said.

  “Yeah, buddy, that’s great, but Jesus? Is Tiffany going to be okay? She’s not waking up, and how am I going to explain all of this to her?”

  “As long as you two don’t breathe a word of it to her she’ll be just fine. This will all seem like a bad dream to her tomorrow when she wakes up at home.”

  “You don’t want us to tell her anything about what happened including her being abducted by Lucifer, and seeing me as The Man Wrapped in Darkness?” I asked.

  “Yeah, Jesus, how are we going to pull that one off?” asked Alec.

  Jesus flicked his hand and Tiffany disappeared from in front of us, and I know Alec was about to freak out.

  “Oh my God!” Alec yelled.

  “Yes,” Jesus said.

  Alec again cried out. “Oh my God. What just happened?”

  “Again, Alec, I’m right here. What do you want?”

  “He’s messing with you, Alec,” I said to try and get Alec to calm down.

  “Where did she go, Jesus?” Alec asked.

  “I sent her home, and she’s resting comfortably in her bed. It’s simple what you need to say to her tomorrow when she calls you about this wild dream she had. You are to simply listen, and say something about how crazy that sounds, and then change the conversation to a more pleasant topic.”

  “Like what?” asked Alec.

  “I’m sure you will think of something. Now it’s time to get going. You have a wedding to finish planning.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Death

  The Second Heaven

  Death’s Domain

  I CRASH LANDED HARD onto the stone ledge at the entrance of my domain from where the presence of The One had cast me out from the natural realm. I hit the ground so hard I shattered most of my bones upon impact. I quickly willed my broken femurs and shattered vertebra ba
ck together and commanded the rest of my bones to reattach themselves to me as I stormed down the stone hallway. The moment my human form had been dissolved away, the clock had begun. I started to feel my cultured self slip away, and it was being replaced by my old, ravage desire to kill any thing in any way possible. I had to get to my.... to my.... I stopped for a moment in the hall and tried to organize my thoughts.

  I heard my old life as it called to me.

  You thought you could get away, but there’s no escaping me.

  “Shut up!” I yelled out as loud as I could.

  What was I looking for? It was just on the tip of my tongue. It was. It was. Ah, yes, the girl, my muse. I must get to her quickly before I’m completely... completely lost.

  Get to the violin! I repeated it to myself over and over again. Get to the violin!

  It had to be punishment from The One for my involvement in Lucifer’s plan, and I sensed he was determined to degrade me to my old self, stripped of all class and elegance. If that happened, I’d never be the same again. My thoughts had become harder to organize, but if I focused on getting to the back room, I still had a chance to save myself. I couldn’t let The One steal the memory of my precious muse from me, and everything she had inspired in me over the years. With each step, more of my passion for classical musical arts withered and died like a flower that had been picked from the soil and given to someone’s beloved.

  The voice rushed back to me again.

  I’m getting closer now, not much longer until I’m back for good.

  “No! Focus, Death, you have to get to her, and do... do what? What do I need to do when I get to...her?”

  Panic filled my bones as I hastened into the opened chamber which contained all my instruments, and carefully orchestrated operas and symphonies. I recognized only about half of what I saw in the room. I pushed my throne with such force that it knocked over my cello and snapped the neck of the once glorious instrument as it collided with the floor.