by Jack Crosby
She pointed to the spot with her long finger and whatever magic was concealing them faded away. Two men were hiding in plain sight, ready to strike when we got close. Except their days as men were over. “Suffice to say you know who those two are.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. Where did she pull them out from?”
“Belial was using them for his own personal death games, completely unsanctioned of course.” She gave me an innocent smile. I couldn’t care less about what Belial did. “My guess is she freed them when she conquered his kingdom.”
Oz walked over and tugged on Lilith’s tunic. “Not to be rude, but could you tell me who they are? They look pretty bad ass.”
The way she looked at him was almost loving. This was way too weird for me. “Grandson, these men are Cain and Longinus, the two most reprehensible men in history.”
He looked over at me for further explanation. “Cain was the first murder, killing his brother Abel and Longinus did some pretty bad things to the Almighty’s son. Not two guys you’d expect to find in nice parts of town.”
“And looking at it, they’ve certainly been enhanced.” Lilith made it sound almost sexual. “It seems you have your hands full, so I’ll part ways.” She took Oz’s hand. “No matter what your foster mother says, I’m not a monster.” Roxanne made a noise, what that was certainly not polite.
With one last smile, she poofed into thin air. With Cain and Longinus out in the open, it was time to take on the guardians. They hadn’t moved from their spot, but it was obvious by their expressions they knew they’d been had. “I think that’s as far this way as they can come.” I looked back at Conquest. “What do you say me and you go take care of these guys?”
“Aww dad, you’re going to make us sit out again?”
“Seriously Grimm, you didn’t bring us here to cheerlead for you.”
Instantly I pictured Roxanne is a cheerleader outfit. I needed to snap out of it. “This is our home and these two are trespassing. I promise you can join the next fight, okay?”
They joined Khloros and the three of them just stood there, sulking. Ugh, hopefully Cain and Longinus wouldn’t be this difficult to deal with.
Chapter 22 – The Original Sinners
The four of us were locked in the world’s longest staring contest. Cain was across from me, easily as tall as War and just as huge. Muscles were rippling in places muscles shouldn’t even be. He hadn’t updated his look in over six thousand years, still wearing simple sandals and a plain brown tunic. In his left hand was a dagger that had evil intentions.
Beside him was the Roman Legionnaire Longinus. Not quite as tall and muscular as Cain, the man still had an intimidating presence. He was the ideal solider for the old empire, an unquestioning henchman who was damn good with a weapon. His spear, legendary among both human and celestials, rested against him almost lazily.
In the old language, “So the prodigal son returns to Eden.” Cain gave me a half smirk and went on. “And you brought the whole family to watch you get slaughtered. You must be sadistic.”
“I’ve fought Arch-Demons, Abaddon, and some of the worst scum the world’s ever seen. What do you think you two can bring to the party that they hadn’t?”
Longinus looked over at his buddy. “The Reaper makes a valid point. What is our battle plan going forward?”
“We do as the witch asked us to; we kill anyone who crosses the barrier.”
“The element of surprise was supposed to be our advantage. With that gone, this seems to be an overwhelming task.”
Cain kicked the sand beside him. “It matters not. We survived years fighting in the arenas. These two will fall as well.”
The two of them seemed to be on different pages. Longinus still wasn’t convinced. “There is a difference in slaughtering Imps and Wrath demons. These are the Horsemen we are up against. I have no qualms with finally dying, but a plan with a chance of success would be nice.”
“Death, I think maybe we should give these two a minute. I don’t think they’re quite ready.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at my brother’s jab. Cain didn’t take that well at all. “See, they laugh at us! They discount us as a challenge before the first drops of blood are even shed! Longinus, grow a fucking set and let us attack!”
The old Legionnaire looked apprehensive, but took his spear up. “In the end my doubt matters not. I will do as the witch Sabrina has asked of me.”
“What could she have possibly promised the two of you?”
“Freedom. For more years than I can count I’ve fought in the arenas of Hell, all because I killed my brother. When we kill you, I can finally have my life back.”
Longinus was more blasé than Cain. “At this point, I just do not care. I have taken orders this long, what is one more?”
Conquest’s bow appeared and his celestial fire arrows were ready to be nocked. Leviathan joined the crowd as the time for talking was just about at an end. “The two of you stand in the way of us freeing those trapped inside Eden. If you don’t stand down, we will have no choice but to use lethal force.”
Cain smiled and held his dagger up. “Finally, I was getting bored with words.”
“So be it Horsemen. By the orders of her Empress Sabrina, we must fight to either our passing or yours.” Longinus lowered his spear.
Then the battle started. Cain and I engaged while Conquest went for Longinus. Sabrina obviously did something to them as they speed matched ours. My larger attacker was able to get in range with his dagger and back out in-between my attacks. Leviathan was great for keeping distances, but if someone was able to penetrate the circle I created with the blade, then the weapon became ungainly. Unfortunately, it was the only weapon I ever carried.
Cain pushed me back. Even when I managed to nick him, the blow didn’t slow him down. Cain was relentless, almost like a berserker of old. He hadn’t penetrated my defenses fully, but if I didn’t slow him down, this could get hairy.
“Dad, catch!” I turned around just in time to see Oz chucking his sword hilt to me. I reached up and plucked it out of the air. “Force your celestial fire into it! That’s how you activate it!”
I jumped far enough away from Cain to give myself a chance to adjust. Leviathan returned to its harmless form, leaving me to stare at this unusual weapon. “Are you sure kid?”
“Trust me dad, you need something you can use for more speed.”
Cain started coming at me, fast again. No time to argue with Oz, I did as he told me too. I focused my energy into the hilt and the damn thing lit up in a blaze. The center sword was grey and it had a soft white glow around it. Just as Cain swung his dagger at me, I brought the celestial blade down to meet him. The speed I could generate with it was so impressive.
The two weapons collided and the sparks flew, just like they did the first time I saw Oz use this. I brought the sword back quickly and began a relentless attack on the first murderer. Blow after blow rained down upon him, putting him into the defensive all the while backing him up. He wasn’t prepared for this switch.
He kicked up sand in my face, giving him the opportunity to retreat a few steps. I was able to block most of it from my eyes with my hand, so he didn’t buy himself a lot of time. I jumped over him and kept up my attack. Cain, being the bigger man, had a naturally longer reach, but his dagger didn’t add a lot to it. This nullified any advantage over me he may have had.
Cain seemed to know he was on the ropes. “Don’t think you a moment we’re done yet. Rise my minions!”
“What the fuck are you-” He didn’t need to answer my question. From beneath the sand came the demons. Five Wrath demons to be exact. “Oh come on! You’ve got to be joking!”
Conquest landed beside me. “Just when we thought things would be easy.”
I slapped him on the back of the head. “It’s never easy. Don’t joke about that.”
The Wrath demons formed a circle around the two of us with Cain and Longinus looking on from outside of it. They weren’t making
any moves towards the others, so they were really trapped inside an invisible barrier. But just because they were stuck here, didn’t mean Roxanne would stay where she was supposed to. The Lust demon returned to her true form and took to the sky.
“Umm bro, what’s your girlfriend doing?”
I looked up as she hovered above the Wrath demons. They too noticed her arrival. “I’ve learned it’s best not to ask.” Sweetly, “Honey, we’ve got this. It’s cool.”
She ignored me. “Wrath demons, I am Roxanne, Princess of Pandemonium and daughter of Lilith.” Lilith’s name carried a lot of weight. The Wrath demons turned to their summoners and began mumbling about this. “Silence! You are all here against your will, as I know about the Treaty Death signed with the Arch-Demons.”
“What treaty is she talking about?”
“Not now Conquest, I don’t need you rambling about things that have already passed.” I could feel my brother’s annoyance, but I was more interested in how Roxanne was going to override Sabrina’s control.
“The one who conquered your home, her days are numbered! Return to your masters below and wait for the opportunity to reclaim your home.” Fire was burning in her eyes, the same fire that was blazing in the Wrath demons’ below.
One of the demons turned to Cain. “You’re bitch no longer holds sway over us! Fight your own fucking battles mortal!”
In a great big flash of flames, the five Wrath demons disappeared, leaving behind charred sand. Cain and Longinus looked on, greatly upset that their backup was no longer here. Cain began stomping in the sand, furious he’d been abandoned. “You, whore! How dare you interfere!”
“No one talks to Roxanne like that.” I jumped up; Oz’s sword still ignited and brought it down with all I could muster. The fiery blade bit into his left shoulder and didn’t exit until it cleaved most of his upper body from his lower. With a bloody thud, his two sections collapsed to the desert floor.
Longinus was already on one knee by the time I finished Cain off. “I submit and await my fate. I would beg for mercy, but it is unbecoming of a Legionnaire.”
I felt bad for him. I didn’t even need to touch him to know what his fate was. “The power of forgiveness is great. If it’s truly in your heart, you never know what can happen.”
From across the way, Conquest had one of his white arrows ready. “Longinus, long overdue is your day of judgement. Do not fear what awaits you as your exit from this world will be swift.” He let go the bowstring and the arrow pierced his heart. As he joined Cain’s body below, he looked up and finally broke a smile.
Conquest and Roxanne joined me beside the fallen man. “I think he came here hoping to pass on. Unlike Cain, he was ready to face the consequences for his actions.”
Conquest put an arm around me. “You speak like you understood the man.”
“I do. I’m tired too, tired of fighting and having to defend my actions.” Oz and Khloros by this time were with us too. “When this is all over, I want to come back home. I want to return to Eden.”
Chapter 23 – An Army Retrieved
“Dad, you can’t mean that…”
I hated hearing the disappointment in Oz’s voice. “Listen kid, I’m not going to abandon you. You and Roxanne are coming with me. We can live as a family, free of all of this bullshit.”
Roxanne grabbed my hand. “You would bring me here with you?”
“Of course! I know some people who might be willing to bend the rules. I have favors to call in.” This was one hundred percent true. A lot of beings up there owed me a favor or two. Not that kind I could cash in storming the Mistress of Evil’s castle, but the kind that could get me two extra bodies into Eden.
“Dad, I don’t want to live in Eden. I want to live in Philly, it’s my home.”
Well shit, I didn’t expect that. “You’d rather live with humans than in a place that is full of awesomeness and topped off with amazing?”
“Derrick, now’s not the time. We can talk about it as a family later.” She as right, we still had a lot to do before that was possible. “Let’s go break the seal holding your brothers in.”
“Okay, we’ll talk later.” Oh I needed to give them a very stern warning. “Guys, while we’re within the walls of Eden, you can’t swear. If you feel the need to use any language that can be taken poorly, keep it to yourself. The consequences would be high.” Both Oz and Roxanne looked at me like they understood. Thank the Almighty, the ramifications for breaking Eden’s rules are not to be taken lightly.
With the guardians dead and the hidden Wrath demons sent back to Hell, it was a very leisurely stroll up to the front of the Garden. I tried to walk up to the doors, but sure enough there was an invisible barrier that was chalk full of Tree of Life juice. “It’s like she’s just taunting us that she can do whatever she wants.”
Conquest looked on with sadness. “You didn’t witness what she could do. It was unfathomable that her powers sent the three of us faltering to our knees.”
It’d been over sixteen years since my last encounter with Sabrina. Just the thought of that night left such a bitter taste in my mouth that I almost gagged. “We can’t fear her, for if we do, she’s already won.” I placed my hand against the barrier. “We’ve overcome so much to get to this point, let us reopen Eden and begin to fight back.”
He joined me and together we channeled our primal connections to the Tree. The barrier began reacting to our energy, trying to purify the tainted evil Sabrina added to it. It was a tug of war between Horsemen and remnants of magic. The balance shifted when Khloros put his hoof against the barrier, adding in his own connection to the Tree.
With the three of us, the taint was wiped clean and the barrier broke. “We did it!”
Oz was staring at disbelief as the doors to Eden opened up before us. “Whoa, this really is the Garden of Eden?”
“You know it kid. This is your dad’s home, well his original one.” The brilliant light shining through put us all in such good spirits. “Let’s go, you can meet your other uncles.”
With little fear of retribution, the five of us entered the sacred land. The Garden was usually full of life, but it was oddly silent. I figured Famine and War would be right here to greet us. “War? Famine? Where are you?”
“Brother, over there.” Conquest was looking to the west and down by the river. Two figures and three horses were huddled close together. “I think something’s wrong.”
Conquest ran, as a Horseman being away from his steed is never an easy thing to endure for long periods of time. The rest of us followed him down. The area felt normal, so I wondered what happened to my brothers and their horses. As we got closer, it seemed they were in some sort of sleep-like state.
Oz was beside me as I caught up to Conquest. Roxanne couldn’t move nearly as fast in her impractical (yet very sexy) choice of footwear. “Dad, what’s wrong with them?”
I poked War’s back. “I don’t know. I’ve never seen anything like this.”
Conquest had his hands on the white horse by the water. “Leukos, can you hear me?”
Neither of us was getting a response from anyone. Mavros and Pyrrha, the black and red horses of Famine and War, sat there as well. Khloros wasn’t taking this lightly. “I do not sense foul magic over my brethren, but this state they are in is unnatural. The mystery must lie within the Garden.”
I agreed with him. “Some of us should stay here and watch over the bodies while the others go investigate. Any volunteers?”
“Khloros and Conquest should stay with them Grimm, keeping watch. Whoever did this might come back if they know we’re here.”
I looked at Roxanne appraisingly. “You and Oz just want to explore the Garden, don’t you?”
Khloros backed them up. “I agree with her. The two of us can fend off attackers if needed.”
“Conquest, you okay?”
He hadn’t said a lot, which I’m sure had a lot to do with Leukos current state. “I feel this is my doing. Had I not be
en captured, maybe…?”
“Stop right there. If we second guessed every decision ever made, I’d have a lot more to question than you. Hang tough and we’ll get your buddy back.” I ruffled his perfectly combed hair, knowing that irritated him more than anything.
He tried to smooth it out, but he seemed to lessen his guilt. “Fine you stubborn old fool. I won’t beat myself up, but I might to whoever did this.”
Roxanne, Oz, and I ducked into the trees, off to see what we could find. This might’ve been about as practical as looking for a needle in a haystack, but I couldn’t sit still. And I left my medication at home, so my ADHD was in full swing.
“So dad, is this place more a forest or a garden?”
The layout of Eden, not exactly something I want to broadcast to the world, so forget the next few lines. “It’s both son, the Garden lies further in around the Tree of Life. Two rivers flow into the center and that’s where the residents of the Garden live.”
A sixteen year old’s questions never end. “So is there like a city there? Where does everyone live?”
I’m sure you’re curious too, but again not for your ears. I went over everything with Oz and Roxanne, giving them the four-one-one about Eden. By the time I finished, it seemed they were pretty well impressed with everything. “So that’s the grand virtual tour of Eden. Depending on what’s happening here, you might get to see everything.”
We were already getting to the edge of the forest section, ready to cross into the outskirts of the Garden itself. Everything seemed normal, but, “Oz down!”
He ducked just in time as a flaming sword tried to remove his head from his body. Instead it met the cold hard blade of Leviathan. The angel holding the sword immediately ended his assault. “Lord Death, is it truly you?”
I didn’t recognize the young blonde man who tried to kill my son. “Yes it’s me! Put that thing away before you get one of us killed!”
His sword disappeared out of sight, yet he still looked like he might shit himself. “Master Death, I apologize sincerely. I had no idea it was you who returned!”
