by Jack Crosby
Oz looked to be fine and Roxanne looked like she might kill this kid. Everything was normal. “Yeah, it’s me. Who are you? What’s going on here?”
He dropped to one knee. “I am George, member of the Eden Battalion.”
Eden Battalion? “Huh, I’ve never heard of that.”
“We are an elite unit designed to assist in matters involving potential Apocalypses. We were on scene when the witch Sabrina attacked.”
Hmmm, this sounded awfully like something Michael would concoct. “Where’s the rest of your unit George? I want to be debriefed on everything.”
His serious expression turned sour. “They are currently in some sort of stasis. It happened shortly after the witch sealed us within the walls.” Then he looked over at Oz. “Sorry for trying to kill you moments ago.”
“Ain’t no thing Georgie. In Philly, if you aren’t threatened twice a day, you’re not living right.”
The angel looked as confused as I felt. “What do you mean you’re threatened twice a day?”
I felt Roxanne take my hand. “Grimm, now’s not the time to lecture the boy.”
It’s never the time to lecture him. No wonder the kid goes to her with everything, she’s a huge pushover. Not forgetting my son’s issues, “So this stasis, any idea on how to break it?”
“If you are here, that means the barrier has been broken. Hopefully someone will come with a solution.”
Great, the only other person in this place and his big idea was sit around and wait. “George, we can’t wait for an answer. We need to free your men and the other Horsemen pronto. We need all hands on deck to storm Sabrina’s castle.”
He looked at me in shock and wonder. “You are leading an attack against the one who did this to us?”
Almighty help me. “Yes I am kid. Are you in or what?”
He jumped into the air, adding a flap with his wings to give him some extra distance. “A chance to avenge the dishonor she gave us? The Eden Battalion will surely join the good fight.”
Clapping could be heard behind us, on the Garden side. “That’s the spirit you two.”
Without even needing to see him, “Michael. Of course you’re here.”
The most important, senior, powerful, whatever you want to call him, angel approached rather casually. “All is happening as planned my friends. I am proud of all of you.”
Roxanne, who Michael had saved from passing on to watch over my son, walked over to him pulled him into a hug. “I’m so sorry for my failures. I’ve become a Lust demon once again.”
“You have failed no one.” He gently patted her on the back. “Everyone’s path is full of twists and turns, yours just has a lot of them.”
My girl was crying, which was a bit of a hard thing to see. “I just don’t want you to hate me after all you did for me.”
He put a finger to her lips. “Hush child. None of us hates you. You have done so much for the world and received so little recognition. I feel bad that I need to ask more of you,” spreading his arms towards us, “all of you really.”
“I’m ready to do my part sir.” Oz looked nervous, but I was proud of the way he stepped forward and addressed Michael. Not many would do so. “I want to save my brother.”
Michael’s blue eyes sparkled with delight. “I can already tell you have your father’s adventurous spirit in you, which is good. Nothing I can say would even change your mind, so I won’t bother.”
Oz presented him his weapon. “With this, I can defend myself and protect others. All I ask is for a chance to prove it.”
He examined the weapon, stopping on the runes carved into the side. “You have been taught to use a sword by Raphael, am I right?”
“Yes, he also showed me how to access my celestial fire.”
Handing the weapon back to Oz, “This is a fine blade, one I have not seen since the time before humanity. I bless it this day and encourage you to gain experience.” Oh no, I recognized that look. Michael was about to drop hints into the future. “One day, you will be called forth for your own crusade. Let this blade shine brightly and fell your enemies.”
Great, I could see the look in Oz’s eyes now. Putting an end to this mindless future reading, “Do you know anything about the stasis my brothers and George’s battalion are stuck in?”
“A fine question Death. The Big Boss did that, ensuring each of those affected remained in the proper frame of mind to agree to your final mission.”
Whoa, the Big Boss, Almighty himself. “What about George here?”
Michael pulled the young angel over to him. “You were left free in order to grow and harden your resolve. The Eden Battalion needs a leader and your time here has proven to me you are ready.”
“You want me to replace Firenze?”
Michael’s sword came to life. He gestured for George to take a knee before him. Touching his shoulder, “George of the Eden Battalion, it is with great honor that I promote you to the rank of Captain. Let none challenge your authority.”
When Michael finished, a golden halo appeared over George’s head and caught fire. My new friend was officially among the chosen.
Chapter 24 – Questions and Answers
We were at the main assembly hall in the Garden’s central city. Everyone was free of their temporary paralysis and mingling. War was talking to a few angels over on the other side of the hall, roaring his displeasure. “How dare that witch trespass the way she did!”
He was good at getting everyone riled up and the ones closest to him were yelling in agreement. Granted, they had every right to be upset, but War’s needless overreactions weren’t going to help anyone.
The sad part was the Eden Battalion was supposed to be one hundred strong. I did a quick headcount of George’s guys and got forty six. Over half of their numbers gone in one attack. Between that and stealing a branch from the Tree, Sabrina had made an everlasting impression with a number of powerful celestials.
Michael was still with us and he made his way to the front of the hall. “Order please everyone. We have much to discuss and time is running short.” The murmurs took a few minutes to quiet, but soon he had all of our attentions. “Much has happened to us in a very short time. This threat must be extinguished if we are to avoid some very dark times.”
A voice from the back of the room yelled out, “How can we prepare for an enemy like this? She is more powerful than even Lucifer.”
“What she has accomplished in such a small time table is the reason we are classifying Sabrina the Hell witch as an Arch-Fiend. Much like Abaddon before her, we must band together to neutralize this threat.”
More low rumblings broke out amongst the angels. Even Famine, who was standing beside me, wasn’t full of confidence. “Abaddon we had millennia to prepare for. We knew the extent of his power. This Sabrina, I do not even think she knows her true apex.”
“Famine’s right Michael. How can we prepare for an enemy who is still growing into her power? We could be marching right into Armageddon.”
He gave me the old Michael ‘don’t worry’ smile. “I have personally been chosen to lead the attack against her castle fortress, a task I take very seriously.” Michael was going to be on the battlefield? That hadn’t happened in ages. “As such, all of you who agree to stay and fight will be under my command. Do we have any questions?”
“What’s the plan going forward?”
He looked over at my brother Conquest, slightly amused. “You are as impatient as your brother War. I take it as a sign the Horsemen are willing participants?”
That was a stupid question. As much as Sabrina has caused us to suffer, we pledged our support in unison. “We are ready to serve the Almighty.”
With our support given, the Eden Battalion, led by the newly captained George also pledged their allegiance to the Almighty and by extension Michael. The bald, handsome angel was thrilled at the overwhelming support for this mission. “Before we get into the particulars, there is one thing we must go over. Besides riddi
ng the world of another Arch-Fiend that is.”
George was down in front close to me. “Does this have to do with the missing branch she took with her?”
“It has everything to do with that Captain George.” It was weird hearing him call George that. The angel barely looked eighteen (but with celestials you never knew for sure – look at me!) and here he was be given an incredibly high honor. “If Sabrina is allowed to truly master the energy the Tree gives off, she will become unstoppable.”
“So that’s her end game? To combine the powers of Tartarus and Eden?”
“That it is Death. As you experienced when breaking the seal to Eden, there was a bit of tainted magic within the purity of the Tree’s essence. That was her first attempt, one that did not take hold.”
To the surprise of some, Roxanne raised her hand like she was in school or something. Michael, who took everything in stride pointed to her. “As most know by now, she’s my daughter to Beelzebub. Could her lineage hold any secrets to defeating her?”
Rubbing his chin, “From the tremors I’ve felt, she has inherited more of the Arch-Demon’s talents than yours. Her control of such incredible forces definitely has the markings of Beelzebub.” He began pacing the floor, almost anxious. “The exposure to Tartarus and the fiendish power it can give off has amplified those gifts.”
Another angel, rather excitedly, spoke up. “What if we cut off her access to Tartarus? Would that nullify those gifts?”
Putting his hands up, “We are getting ahead of ourselves. Your suggestion Julius is part of a three part plan that the best minds in Heaven have come up with.”
We all began looking around the room. Were there enough bodies to break us up into three groups? Based on my information, Sabrina had an army of demons between us and her. What was the Arch angel up to?
He stepped down and tapped me, Roxanne, Oz, and Conquest on the shoulder. “You four are going to be the assassination team. As the last group to enter the battle, your job is simple: find the witch and slay her.”
Laughing, “Don’t make it sound so simple my man.”
He smiled and went on. Next he picked out War, Famine, the angel named Julius, and another whose name I didn’t know. “The four of you are the infiltration team. Before the assassination team can complete their job, the four of you must find the branch from the Tree and also close off her access to Tartarus.”
Man and I thought my job was hard. War looked ready to kill things, but the other three seemed a bit more reasonable. “Michael,” Famine was so polite, “if I may, it seems we are to do the almost impossible.”
He looked at them. “You are right, we should add another to the group.” He clapped his hands together and waiting patiently. I didn’t know what he had up his sleeve, but I was certainly curious. The doors to the halls opened and another figure walked in. “Perfect, you will do just nicely.”
The angels in the room dropped to a knee again. The lady walking into the room was a legend among them, but to me she was just Veronica. It didn’t matter that she slayed Abaddon, she’d always stay the same to me.
She gave Roxanne and I a small smile as she stepped up to Michael. “I am willing to answer the call.”
“Perfect my student. You will join the infiltration team and supply support to them as they weaken the witch.” He winked at her, “Others will get the glory for actually slaying the Arch-Fiend this time.”
She glanced over at us, relieved she wouldn’t be adding another scalp to her collection. “I am perfectly fine with not engaging her. My back hurts from carrying the Horsemen last time.”
Everyone knew that wasn’t true, but it didn’t stop the four of us from acting outraged and the angels from getting a good chuckle. When the scene calmed down, “There is one final force to be organized. George, are you and the Eden Battalion willing to follow me into the front lines and engage the demons she has collected?”
The sound of almost fifty angels shifting to attention was a thing of awe. It was their turn to fire off an answer in unison, “We will follow you wherever you may go sir. We will not stop until the enemies of Heaven are no longer.”
I could feel one last speech coming on from the man standing in front of us. “So it is, chronicled in the Hall of Heaven, that we, the defenders of Eden will erase this blight from the world. She has come into our home and showed malice to us, taking lives that were not hers to take. This unacceptable behavior must be dealt with and the only way to do so is by force. We came together today as two groups and leave this hall as one. Tonight, may the horns be heard round the world as angel and Horseman alike march towards victory. May the Almighty bless your blades and bring us victory!”
Chapter 25 – From Eden with Love
“Listen Oz, you stay close to us. This is going to be highly dangerous and you need to follow our commands to a T.”
Conquest looked amused at me acting all responsible and everything. “I never thought I’d see the day when you were the worried one. Normally it’s us having to be concerned with you.”
“You have no idea. If Michael hadn’t stopped me from passing on, I don’t know how long he’d had lived.”
I gave Roxanne the evil eye. “Listen, I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.”
“Dad, don’t worry about me. All I want is a chance to talk to Jacoby and make him see you’re not the bad guy.”
Almighty bless him and his faith in me. “Thanks kid, but don’t be surprised if things don’t go the way you hope. I don’t want you to be too disappointed.”
Beside me, “Conquest, when the time comes to confront my daughter, you must stay with Oz and protect him. Death and I must be the ones to battle her.”
“And if anything happens to Roxanne and I, take him with you back to the Garden, okay?”
Both of them looked a bit overwhelmed. “Nothing’s going to happen dad. You and mom here kick major ass. I believe in the two of you.”
“I will do as you ask brother, but like your son, this is a battle we can win. Failure is not an option for anyone.”
Twilight was falling over the mountain range surrounding Sabrina’s castle. The Eastern European had a brisk chill in the air, the perfect atmosphere for one big ass fight. The tension in the air was thick, as was the buzz of energy from all around. It was if the Heavens themselves opened up to watch what was about to unfold.
It was odd not having our horses. In a last minute change to the plan, Michael asked if the angels could use our steeds in the battle below. He said having a small cavalry force would be to our advantage. So for the first time in the history of man, the Horsemen were without horses for battle and four very lucky angels below had the best partners money could buy.
From our place on the side of the mountain we could watch the Eden Battalion, with Michael and George at the front, march towards the castle below. Sabrina’s army was waiting for them, twice the size yet fear swept through them. I don’t think they were expecting ‘the’ Arch-angel to show up for this.
Across the valley from the mountain beside us, I saw one of Famine’s black orbs shine against the twilight. “The infiltration team is getting ready to start their mission. Everyone’s waiting for you to send off an arrow Conquest.”
Conquest called upon his fire and a white arrow appeared in his bow. Knowing that this would start off the final battle to prevent Armageddon, he let loose. The white arrow traveled into the sky before exploding into. Down in the valley below, the battle cry echoed; angels and demons met once again.
As soon as their blades began to clash, I knew the infiltration team was on the move. They were to have a fifteen minute head start before we left. I looked at my watch and set the timer. Fourteen minutes and fifty nine seconds…
**George**
Above us, the white Horseman’s arrow shined like a beacon. Both auxiliary teams were in position; the battle was destined to begin. All of our swords came alive, the fire burning brightly against the demons darkened blades across from us
. With Michael in front of me, in his battle fatigues, we charged.
The witch’s army outnumbered us two to one, but we had experience on our side. I may have been young to be named captain, but the Eden Battalion was a force of nature. My soldiers would be a match for anything these vermin could bring to us. I watched with pride as the four angels who had been selected to ride the Horsemen’s beloved stallions plowed into demon after demon. Michael’s gambit was beginning to pay off.
A particularly large and nasty Wrath demon found his way to me. “A fresh one, ripe for the picking.” Bloodlust and hate touched every word. “She promised us great glory and our Empress has delivered.”
“Shut up.” I could not stand to listen to him talk anymore. If he did, I feared he might kill me with boredom. “Have you come to fight or run your lips?”
His choice was to fight. His broadsword engaged my rapier, knocking the both of us back. “You’re strong for one so young and puny.”
“Never judge one by physical appearance alone.” I brought my sword towards the beast, causing him to jump back to avoid getting skewered. “Much like by your appearance you seem to be rather dumb.”
Two more blows, each blocked by the other were delivered. It seemed we had each found our equal in the skirmish. “Calling me dumb? That’s funny since I’m the one on the winning side.”
As he talked, I tried to go low, at his knees, but he was not that distracted. Parrying my blade away, he pressed the attack. His skill was crude, but he was well balanced. I was positioning myself to strike again, but our battle was interrupted by another Wrath demon. This one was on fire and he ran between us. He did not make it very far before exploding. “You say you are on the winning side? I see things rather differently.”
My opponent lobbed a black loogie on to the ground. What a foul creature! “You don’t understand angel. With the Empress gaining power, she will soon wipe you all from the face of this world. Even Michael doesn’t stand a chance.”
