He had to know, deep down, that it couldn't possibly be God's will for him to feed the drugged and destitute to hungry angels. Part of him had to understand he was offering souls—not simply flesh—to his Faithful, and those souls served as fuel to keep them sustained while they worked toward their own personal objective. Granted, he did seem to be clueless about the darkness he'd been spreading in the name of love and light, and he had no idea that the more power they offered him, the bigger the pawn he became. Still, at the end of the day, he'd be lying if he tried to claim complete innocence in the arrangement. His motivations were just as selfish as theirs.
The djinn willed himself visible, cloaking his true form in a veil of light. Hershel noticed him immediately and looked up with a smile.
"I was just thinking about you," Hershel said. "Divine providence."
"Yes, my Lord."
"My kitchen staff is having difficulty with the expansion. We have so many plans, but not enough direction." Hershel shook his head. "I need a few experienced workers, some people who've managed in cafeterias or restaurants and can bring in some fresh ideas."
"We're working on it. More help will be on its way soon."
The man looked more relieved than he wanted to let on. "I never doubted you. I must admit, though, that figuring out the logistics for all of this has been a bit overwhelming. I should be guiding my flock, not deciding between donation boxes and canned food drives."
"We couldn't agree more. Your congregation needs your direction, now more than ever."
That seemed to satisfy him.
"Do you remember when you first learned of your calling?"
Hershel nodded. "Somehow I'd always known, although I didn't fully realize it until the evening I first saw you."
"Being the Son of God is the most difficult calling any man could endure. You are divine, but you're also human, and that makes for a heavy burden. Jesus found his task no easier than yours—and he merely had to die with grace. You must see this world through its end times, the battle between Heaven and Hell over every last soul. So much is at stake, and time is growing short."
"This church has grown exponentially. You've gifted me with great allies and taught me so much. I won't let you down."
"Your congregation has indeed grown, and it will continue to grow. Gone are the days of obscurity and uncertainty. So many people have sought your direction for so long, ignorant of the leadership that was waiting for them right under their noses."
"I'm grateful to have found my flock … finally, after so many years of feeling so lost myself. I'd just about given up. Nearly closed my doors." The man's voice raised an octave with his sudden show of emotion. "Could you imagine what would have happened had our church folded? These grounds would have been rendered unhallowed. The cemetery behind us suddenly would have held unsanctified remains. What would have become of their souls? Would they have been torn from Heaven, damned simply because I wasn't strong enough to keep them safe? How long might it have taken for me to redeem them?"
"All questions that never need to be answered—because you were brave enough to accept your charge. Thank God for you, your people's savior."
Hershel's lips quivered, but he held his composure.
"It is your strength and bravery that will keep you one step ahead of all that Hell attempts to throw your way."
The man sniffled, his sense of self-satisfaction finally bringing him to tears. If only he could see himself, the djinn thought, amused. With his help and the help of so many others like him, they'd marked enough of the population to effect the change they'd set out for. Soon, the other kingdoms would crumble.
He'd been looking forward to this day for millennia. They'd planned, and they'd been so patient. They would watch their enemies starve and wither, and then they would take their rightful place.
"I wouldn't have gotten to this point without your guidance," Hershel said, trying to sound humble. It was always entertaining to watch men such as this make a show of humility. It left them wide open to suggestion.
"I've come now to warn you that the enemy has arrived. She thinks she can use you as a guide for the demons she's allowed to bond with her spirit. She thinks she can corrupt you, take you down before you have the chance to offer humanity the salvation it desires."
Hershel visibly braced himself. "Is Lenny with her?"
"We believe Lenny has either fled or died. She's … disappeared."
"She has to be somewhere. What's the worth of having omnipresence if we can't even keep track of one girl?"
"We would guess the demons have decided she's of better use to them in Hell."
Hershel exhaled heavily, his eyelids fluttering for a moment. "No, not her. Why did they have to take her?"
"To hit you where it hurts the most, my Lord."
More tears glistened in the man's eyes. "They'll pay dearly for that."
"Yes, they will."
"This girl, the one who's bonded with the demons, might she know what they did to Lenny?"
"We believe so, but she won't give such information over easily. She's handed her soul over to the Devil and given her will to the demons. They will harden her heart and hold back the answers you seek."
The determination that quickly etched itself across the man's face filled the djinn with glee. He allowed it to settle for a minute and waited to see what Hershel would have to say in response.
"But we can get her to talk?"
"We believe you'll have no choice but to resort to extreme measures."
"Extreme measures?"
"An exorcism, my Lord."
"An … exorcism? I thought churches didn't perform exorcisms anymore."
"That's because they aren't qualified. Only one man has the requisite power, one man who houses the will of God and possesses the rights to do with it as he sees fit."
"Me."
"Yes, you."
The man's face twisted and the muscles tightened, the minutest trace of a smile taking hold. His hand went to his lips, like he'd just received a scandalous tidbit of information, and his eyes wandered the room in contemplation. "I've never done anything like this before. I'm not sure I know where to start."
"God will guide you. He will be your hand … and you, His vessel."
Hershel nodded.
"His glory will shine through, and so will the truth, but you must force the demons into submission. They must suffer terribly if they are to break, and if they refuse to break, their vessel must die."
Hershel didn't seem to like that, but he said nothing.
"Hopefully it doesn't have to come to that," the djinn quickly added.
"I pray it doesn't."
The succubus neared, and the djinn turned toward the door. "She's coming down the hall. Are you ready?"
Hershel nodded, but the subtle tremble to his hands betrayed his concern.
"We will be with you every step of the way."
Hershel continued to nod, slipping a little too deeply into his own thoughts for the djinn's comfort. This human-succubus would serve as a lesson to anyone who opted to side against them. He'd make sure she was just recognizable enough to send back to Hell, a picture perfect example of what they were capable of, a message relaying the extent of their influence over both humanity and its realm.
Chapter 29
Lenny walked the halls of the church, trying to figure out where she could go to find any information on who was behind this crap. She continued to hold the form of Joshua because the Faithful basically had free reign. None of the church members would question him, no matter where he went.
There were doors on each side that led to rooms and closets, but there was nothing of value in any of them.
"Think," she whispered.
"Think about what?"
The voice behind her was a familiar one, but it still scared her half to death. Joseph stood there with his arms crossed, waiting for an answer.
"I was trying to figure out where Lenny may have gone," she improvised. "
She's been gone for a long time."
"Yes, Lenny. She is very special to Father for some reason. He has taken quite a shine to that girl."
"Yeah, she's pretty special, all right."
"Well, I don't know what you think you're going to find, but happy searching. I have to go out and pick up a few new converts at the camp over on Sixth Street. I'll be back in an hour or two. Can you let Father know when you see him?"
"No problem."
Lenny waved at Joseph, not sure what else to say. Joseph turned and walked away without another word.
Lenny sighed as he turned the corner. Jack and Marcy walked down the hall toward her, arguing about mashed potatoes and spinach. They paid no attention to Joseph, other than to give a small nod as they passed. They had apparently just come from Father's office, according to their mumblings as they rounded the next corner.
Lenny decided she needed to head to the conference room. That was the only place she hadn't searched. She pivoted on her heel and headed back toward the secret room.
Chapter 30
Drew wandered through the pews, her confidence inflated by the djinn energy still flowing through her spirit. She felt the part of the trickster, capable of outsmarting anyone there who might suspect she didn't belong. She almost felt as though she could disguise herself accordingly, like a shifter or similar creature, although she knew logically that there was a big difference between stealing life force and stealing physical abilities.
Lenny, on the other hand, was perfectly capable of taking on the physical appearance of whomever she wanted. According to Polly, she currently roamed the church grounds in the disguise of one of Hershel's Faithful, a djinn who'd hidden his identity by posing as a man named Joshua. Not even the other djinn there could tell the difference.
Lenny's job was to keep the Faithful occupied long enough for Drew to extract whatever information she could from Hershel. The plan had been a hasty one, but Lucifer, certain that time was running short, had felt it necessary to send them out sooner rather than later. Lenny had been adamant against her return, but something Polly had told her privately had convinced her to go.
Drew had no idea what she'd said, but she didn't really care. She would have been agreeable to just about anything the demon had suggested, her mood far too elevated for her to object. She still felt some residual nausea from the djinn's toxic soul, but she'd expelled the darkness—or at least most of it. The dizziness hadn't yet abated, but now it felt more like the buzz that came with a couple of beers.
She didn't want to admit she was still a little high from the exchange; she didn't want to think about it. That would mean admitting she now teetered on the wagon's edge, a place she'd prided herself for having avoided slipping back into for a long time. This is different, she rationalized. This is for purely unselfish reasons. This might help save the world.
The thought of it made her giggle. Who'd have thought a prostitute thief would have anything to offer, let alone something so important? Did it matter if she enjoyed herself a little in the process?
Just this one last time….
Polly had sent her to syphon off just enough to draw a clearer picture of Hershel's part in the larger plan, similar to what she'd done to the djinn, but Drew had other plans. She'd take all she could from the man. She wanted him.
To hell with abstinence.
Tomorrow would be a new day.
The anticipation roused her dormant hunger, and her body went warm and flush with desire. She licked her lips as she reached the hall. Trembling and nearly panting, Drew went to the closed office door and knocked.
"Yes?" Hershel called out.
"Do you have a minute … Father?"
He came to the door and opened it just wide enough to peer out. "Yes? What is it?"
Drew could smell the deception—burning leaves—but chalked it up to the lie of his total being. The false prophet. He was there to deceive, there to divide humanity's souls from the ether and deprive them from their rightful place in the afterlife. If anyone deserved to lose what she was capable of taking, it was this guy.
"Can I talk to you?" She struggled to remain focused. "Alone?"
"Of course, my child." He invited her in and shut the door, offering her a seat.
She remained standing.
"I must say I'm glad to see you again. The way you left the other day made me think you were lost to us for good."
She smiled sweetly, doing her best to hide the sudden trepidation that came with his recognition. Was she that memorable? Did he know more than he was letting on? "I was just a little overwhelmed."
He smiled back. "That's understandable. God's love is a powerful thing. I'm just glad you came back, gave the church another chance."
She moved closer, close enough to feel the energy radiating from him. The darkness weaved throughout put a bad taste in her mouth, and she considered walking away one more time.
His eyes scanned up and down Drew's slim body. Her clothing left little to the imagination, and she could smell a hint of arousal breaking through. Still, he kept his hands to his sides. He glanced away from her, to the darkest corner in the room.
What did he see? Was the darkness speaking to him?
He walked around to the seat behind the desk. "What is it you wanted to talk about?"
"I just…" She sauntered a little closer. "I'm so lonely. I feel so empty, you know? I was hoping you could help me. That's what you do, right? Help people?"
"It is."
The room got darker, the one corner appearing as though shaded in the darkest night. Something was there, something that was trying to hide from her. She struggled to hide her panic, the realization that she'd stepped into a trap both sudden and sobering.
"Why don't you sit?" Hershel gestured again.
"I'd rather stand."
"It's really best you sit," said the dark creature materializing behind her right before it hit her in the back of the head with enough force to make her see stars—and then total darkness followed.
* * *
"My Faithful…." Hershel's voice was dim and distorted, and Drew's first thought was that she had to be partially submerged in water.
Her head throbbed, and her thoughts were every bit as muddled as the words coming at her from more than one direction. She opened her eyes, wincing at the light shining down on her. Everything was blurry, so she had a hard time discerning her location. It seemed she was not underwater, but in a different room somewhere in the church.
When she tried to move, she realized she'd been secured to a sturdy, wooden chair with lengths of twine. Her wrists were fastened to the armrests, and her body was held fast against the chair's back. She tried to pull away, not yet fully registering the situation.
"Joshua had a lead on the security breech. He and the other Faithful should be here shortly," said Kevin.
The one who'd initially tried to bring me in….
"She's awake," Hershel said. "Stand guard at the door. Make sure only the Faithful are allowed to pass."
"Yes, Father."
Drew heard footsteps, then the sound of the door creaking open. It closed with a massive slam. She struggled to focus her eyes. Whatever kind of head injury she'd sustained, it had done a number on her senses.
"Drew, can you hear me, child?"
She turned to the sound of Hershel's voice.
"The demon you harbor has made a mess of your life. I understand now why you've resorted to selling your body. You had no choice; the evil drove you to do the things you've done. Today is your lucky day. Today, everything is going to change."
She squinted, just making out the shape of his face. "Demon?"
"I know you have no choice but to deny it, but we'll remedy that. It's going to be okay. I have the power to save your eternal soul."
She tried again to get up. "You're crazy!"
"Just relax. We'll be ready to begin soon."
She watched while he sprinkled water from a shallow dish onto the ground around
her, muttering some kind of prayer. He finished by pouring the remaining water over her head. The room itself was cold, but the water made her shiver. Her teeth chattered.
Hershel stood in solemn prayer. "Yes … yes, I see."
Who's he talking to?
"The holy water agitates the demon inside," he continued. "It knows we're ready to fight for this soul."
The smell of dirt and oil grew pungent. Something else is in here with him … that thing, the darkness tainting the people here. What does it want with me?
My soul?
"There's something evil in here," she tried. "It's stained your spirit. Whatever it's telling you, it's lying."
He paused for a few seconds then said, "Yes, I know."
"Then let me go!"
"Yes, she's in heavy denial," Hershel continued. "No, of course I didn't expect any different. This might be my first exorcism, but it's not my first interaction with evil."
"Exorcism?"
Hershel chuckled. "That got her attention."
She pulled and jerked against the twine, cringing at the pain in her head intensifying with her rising blood pressure. "You've got it all wrong. This is a mistake. You need to let me go!"
"You know I can't do that." He glanced past her. "We should get started. The others can assist when they get here."
"Please—"
Hershel whispered another prayer, his words so quick and hushed she couldn't make out what he was saying. Then, as if with a violent jolt, he turned to her and stared directly into her eyes as hers fell into focus. His was filled with anger and … sadness?
She flinched when his hand went gently to her cheek.
"Don't be afraid, my child. Salvation is at hand."
"I'm not your child."
He inched forward to get a closer look. "Who's in there? Asmodeus? Beelzebub? Legion?"
"I'm not possessed. Listen, whatever you think you're—"
His open hand connected with her face before she even saw it coming. As unexpected as the blow was, it was nothing she hadn't endured before. The smack might have been abrupt enough to cut her off mid-sentence, but she kept her emotions in check. The shock of pain gave way to the numbness that came with a swelling lip, a sensation she'd become well acquainted with over the years. She hated that feeling, a fat lip. It could have been worse—a black eye, a box to the ear, a cracked jaw—and it could always get worse. She needed to size this man up, see what he was capable of, before she said a whole lot more.
Cast In Blood: Revelations Series Book 1: Page 16
