Cursed Presence (Trilogy of the Chosen Book 2)

by J. M. LeDuc

  “Gabriel?” Chloe asked.

  Father Jessup shook his head. “No, it was Michael, the Archangel of War. He was huge and his voice bellowed, making my bones vibrate. I felt every word he spoke in every ounce of my being. He looked at Brent, then at me. He motioned and called me forward.”

  Father Jessup again wiped tears from his eyes and with a half-smile, looked at everyone at the table. “I didn’t know how I would make my legs move toward him, they shook so much. But I did.

  “As I stood in front of him, he told me to take the sword from his hands. I gripped it, he let it go and the sheer weight of it forced me to my knees. The sword dropped in front of me and made a thunderous noise as it hit the stone floor. Before I could say or do anything, Michael reached down, lifted me with one hand while picking up the sword with the other. His lips didn’t move, but I heard him say…”

  Just a small exercise to prove what you’ve been preaching. No one but the Enlightened One will be able to carry the Sword of Truth. Step back while the chosen one steps forward.

  “I bowed my head and stepped back as I was told, while Brent moved toward Michael. Brent removed the Ark of the Enlightenment from his backpack and placed it on the altar. Then he stood in front of the Archangel. I looked and listened. Michael asked him if he was certain that he was willing to face The Dark One. He didn’t hesitate. He stepped even closer to the Archangel and said he was ready to do whatever God asked of him. Michael then stretched out his arms and told Brent to take up the sword. Brent took it from his hands and, as he did, the light that shined from the sword, illuminated though Brent.

  “At that moment, I knew he would never be the same.” Father Jessup looked at Chloe and saw tears spill down her face. “Don’t fret, Chloe. I know beyond all doubt that he’ll return to you.”

  “How do you know, Father?”

  “If you’ll bear with me for one more moment, I will tell you.”

  Chloe and everyone else nodded for Father Jessup to continue.

  “Brent held and carried that sword as if he’d been wielding it all his life. With blinding speed, he cut through the air in a variety of movements. When he stopped, Michael pointed toward the ark Brent had placed on the altar. Brent put the sword back in its sheath and stood in front of the altar. He opened the ark and removed a book. He read the name of the book, looked at Michael and asked if this was necessary.

  “The angel dropped his head and said solemnly, ‘It’s the only chance you have in defeating The Dark One.’

  “I couldn’t stand not knowing and ran to the altar. The book was written in a language I had never seen before, yet I was able to read it. The cover read, The Book of Sufferings. Brent looked at me, the book and back at me.

  “Before he opened the book, he repeated, ‘Remember, Father, believe with your heart and not with your eyes.’”

  Father Jessup looked again at Chloe. When he saw that she understood what he’d said, he continued. “Again, I heard and felt a rumbling. I looked back to see that the curtain had reappeared. I knew that my time there was finished. I slowly backed towards the curtain, not wanting to take my eyes off Brent. I saw him open the book.” The priest’s hands shook as he tried to grasp the glass of water on the table in front of him.

  Chloe reached across the table to help steady his hand and asked him to please finish telling what he had seen.

  Father Jessup took a deep breath, in an attempt to compose himself. “When he opened the book, I saw and heard things that made me want to run, but my feet wouldn’t move. At first, I thought I saw shadows emerge from the pages of the book. I stood, helplessly watching. I thought it was some sort of black dust that Brent had disturbed by opening the book, but it kept on coming. It looked like shadows on the walls.” He wiped the sweat that had formed on his forehead and shook his head in disbelief. “Then the shadows, or whatever they were, took form. Demons of different sizes and shapes took flight. Eyes, red and piercing circled the room up by the ceiling. They yelled different things aimed at Brent and me.”

  “What kinds of things?” Chloe asked in a timid voice.

  “Chloe, no. Don’t do this to yourself,” Maddie said.

  Through her tears, Chloe said, “I’ve got to know. I can’t help him if I don’t know what he’s gone through.”

  Father Jessup didn’t look directly at Chloe, partly from shame, partly because he knew that he wouldn’t be able to finish if he saw her reaction. “I don’t know what they were saying. They didn’t speak in a language known to man. It was probably the language of Satan, the one used in hell. Whatever they were saying, I was drawn to them.

  It was as though they tempted me to come closer. As I moved in their direction, Brent removed the sword from the sheath and pointed it at me. In a voice much like the angel’s, he said, ‘Enough. This is not your battle. It’s time that you leave this place and tell the others what you have seen.’

  “Before I left, I heard them taunt Brent. I haven’t known him long, but in the time I have known him, I’ve never seen him scared.”

  “I’ve known him longer than anyone and I’ve never seen Brent scared.”

  Father Jessup looked at Seven. “Well, he was at that moment. Yet, he was not thinking of himself, only of the others. He shook off his fear long enough to look at me and say, and again I quote, ‘Tell Seven to drive him toward the old stone church and make sure that Charlotte stays put. She is to keep watch over the girl. She is not allowed to leave headquarters. There is too much danger for her.’

  “Then he told me something that didn’t make much sense, but at that point not much did. He said,” ‘You all need to find a way to forgive him for what he has done. Make room in your heart to love him. It’s our only chance.’

  “By then, the demons had multiplied in number. They sounded angrier than ever. Brent yelled at me, ‘GET OUT NOW!’ I ran out in fear and shame for not helping him. But not before I saw demons enter his body.”

  A collective hush fell over the room. With tears streaming down his face, Father Jessup said, “Some entered his eyes, others entered through the top of his head. Even others passed through his chest. I heard him scream in agony, but all I could do was run. I’m so ashamed.”

  He kept his head down after he’d finished relating the events he’d witnessed. He heard sniffles, but the crying, loud crying, came from Chloe. He regained his composure, and continued. “Back in the tunnel, I dropped to my knees and prayed for his safety, for his life.” He added, with renewed confidence, “That’s when Jesus came to me.”

  “You mean in your prayers, Father?” Chloe said.

  “No, I mean that’s when He came to me, down in that tunnel, when I was at my lowest. I heard footsteps and figured it was Maddie and Seven. When I opened my eyes, I saw that it was Christ.”

  Chloe composed herself, “What did He say?”

  “For me to tell you that Brent had to face his fears and be able to resist his temptations if he was to have a chance of defeating Satan. That’s what the demons were, his fears and temptations. Then He told me to tell you that Brent would return to you, that He would protect him.”

  “Are you sure, Father? You’re not just saying that to make me feel better, are you?”

  “I swear to…to God that I’m telling you the truth, Chloe.” Father Jessup stood up and walked to the front of the room. “Well, you asked what happened. Now that I’ve told you, it’s in your hands.”

  “He’s right,” Seven said and looked at the clock. “It’s five-thirty. We have little time. Jefferson, take the road into town on the south end. Fitzpatrick, the east. Maddie, I want you to keep watch on the west side and I’ll take the road entering from the north. If anyone sees anything weird…and I mean anything, report it on channel thirteen. Once we’ve identified the assailant, we are to do as the Colonel ordered; drive him to the old stone church on the east side of town. Do not, I repeat, d
o not attempt to take him out. It will be of no use and you’ll find yourself in mortal danger. Now, move out.”

  “What about me?” Charlotte asked. Her voice tinged with anger.

  “You, soldier, are to do as your commanding officer told you. Stay with Miss Farrell until further notice.” He stepped within inches of Charlotte, so close she could feel his words, “Is that understood?”

  She dropped her head and nodded.

  “I didn’t hear you, Scarlett. Do you understand your orders?”

  “Yes, sir!”

  “Good. Now, fall out. Chloe, stay with Joan and Lucille in Maddie’s office until this is over. Understood?”

  She nodded. “Bring Brent home to me, Seven. Please.”

  He softened a bit and kissed her on the forehead. “That’s my first priority, Chloe, my only priority.” He turned to the squad. “Why in hell are you still here? MOVE OUT!”

  Seven dialed a number and waited. After one ring, he heard, “Who’s this? How did you get this number?”

  It was the cop that Brent became friends with after the Donavan Ferric ordeal; Lieutenant Owens.

  “Relax, Lieutenant, it’s Seven, Brent’s friend. I…he needs a favor.”

  “How can I help?”

  “We need a total lockdown of Palm Cove. A curfew to begin as soon as possible. No one is to be on the streets until daylight tomorrow.”

  “Does this have anything to do with the escaped convict?”

  Seven hesitated. “It does.”

  “Is there anything my men can do to help?”

  “No, sir, this is between Brent and the Butcher.”

  “I’ve learned not to question Brent’s motives. Consider it done.”

  While Seven talked, Father Jessup walked back to Maddie’s office with Joan and Chloe. “I think I know a way I can help. Is there a bus or a large van I can borrow?”

  “There’s a small bus we use to shuttle trainees in,” Chloe said. “It’s parked in the garage in the back of the building.”

  “You mean out back of the building?”

  “No,” Joan said. “She means in the back of the building. Come on, we’ll show you where it is.”

  CHAPTER 56

  At 6:30 p.m., Jonas drove along I-95 towards Palm Cove. A dark, low cloud followed him.

  When he approached the exit marked ‘The Coves,’ he slowed to make the turn. At the bottom of the off-ramp, he stopped for a traffic light. Another sign pointed north. It read, ‘Coral Cove.’ Jonas turned the wheel of the stolen Mercury Marquis to the right, toward Palm Cove. His skin tingled as he passed the “City Limits” sign. He knew it was his destiny to be here and he was prepared to fulfill his role.

  As he entered the town, the cloud above him grew darker and more menacing. It dropped lower in the sky, as if an intended personal escort. Thunder and lightning emanated from it; yet, no rain fell.

  With every crack of thunder and flash of lightning, Jonas’ soul grew darker. He had no doubt he was ready; invincible. Methodically, over the past four days, The Dark One had seeped his spirit into Jonas’ body and mind until his outer shell was all that was left.

  The Dark One looked on through the eyes of his demonic throng, he knew he had picked the perfect candidate for his purposes. He had been grooming him since he was born making sure that he had no male authority figure in his life. Then he made doubly sure that Jonas’ mother was over-protective, ever-diligent and extremely-paranoid. He had wanted young Jonas to grow up spineless.

  The Dark One’s next step was one of pure evil genius, one that only the most supreme of beings could have pulled off. He caused the death of Jonas’ mother and made sure that Jonas would be sent to live with his aunt.

  Grooming Aunt Peg had been another feather in his cap. Everything had gone perfectly, just the way he had orchestrated it, until Aunt Peg took in the wrong boarder. How was he to know that she would cause Liz to feel love again? He had made certain that he had seeped enough of his spirit into that one so that she would be regarded as mentally incompetent, and she would never see the outside of the sanitarium she now called home.

  Throughout his travels to Palm Cove, Jonas had shaken any positive thoughts of his past from his mind. Memories of Mary Ann fluttered in and out of his mind, but they were quickly forgotten.

  It struck Jonas as strange as he passed through the city limits that not one person was on the streets.

  They know I’m coming. That means the Enlightened One has been revealed.

  He chuckled and said aloud, “He’ll be waiting for me. That just makes my destiny easier.”

  Meanwhile, Seven announced over the radio, “Subject just entered the north end of town. He’s driving a late model Mercury Marquis.”

  “How do you know it’s him?” Fitz asked.

  “Look to the northern sky. See that strange cloud formation? Those aren’t clouds. They’re exactly what Father Jessup described when he talked about the demons in the tunnel.”

  “My God,” Fitz said.

  “All right, boys and girls, the party has begun.” There was palpable excitement in Seven’s voice. The actual confrontation, the part of the mission Brent least liked, was the part Seven looked forward to the most. “I’m going drive him east down Main Street towards Sixth Avenue. Fitz, you should be the next to see him. Keep driving him towards the east.

  “Sergeant, start to converge toward the intersection of Sixth and Ocean. We’ll need all the backup we can get. Maddie, hold your position until notified.”

  “I hear you loud and clear. Stay on task, people,” Maddie said. “This is no time for heroics. That’s an order.”

  Driving so slow that his car was hardly moving, Jonas took note of the street lights: they were all off. He leaned forward, practically resting his chest on the steering wheel to get a better look at his surroundings when, suddenly, the sound of his front tire blowing out startled him. He jumped back. The adrenaline rush caused his excitement to peak.

  This is good, he thought, little do they know that fear is my disciple. It makes me stronger, and that much more invincible.

  Jonas pulled the car to the curb and turned off the ignition. He leaned over to open the passenger door, hoping to draw fire. But as he swung the door open, all he heard was the still of the night. Silence filled the air.

  Not taking any chances, he pushed the driver’s side door open as wide as it would go, then ducked down for cover while he slithered out of the front seat. Mere bullets could not kill him. He was too much demon for them to take effect. They could however, cause his human shell to bleed and that would cause pain. He wanted or needed neither right now. His attention had to stay focused on one thing only: finding and killing the Enlightened One.

  When he drew no fire, he rose to a standing position and moved away from the door, exposing himself to the potential of enemy fire. A shadow much larger than usual stood up with him. At that moment, Jonas felt naked, totally exposed and with nothing to cover or protect him. He looked into the blackness, but could see nothing. No movement, no sound, no smell. Nothing to key him in on where his enemy might be hiding.

  “Well, that’s a first,” Seven said. “In the dark of night, Jonas has a shadow. We now know he’s more demon than human, so everyone, take extra precaution. No heroics.”Jonas grew angrier by the second as he stood in the middle of the street. While his anger mounted, his eyes started their metamorphosis. Blue quickly gave way to black which quickly turned flaming red. Once the color shift was complete, their shape became serpent-like.

  Jonas raised his arms toward the sky. With a deep, guttural scream, he commanded the clouds to separate into their demonic form. “Inhabitants of hell, go and find the enemy.”

  The Archangels Michael and Gabriel watched from above. They had seen the demons follow The Dark One into town. They knew he could not be trusted to play by the rules that h
ad been decided upon since the dawn of creation. They would even the playing field.

  With a wave of their hands, they dispersed angels whose sole purpose was to cover their people with a shield of invisibility. Though the odds were heavily stacked against those on the side of truth, the archangels were there to keep it a fair confrontation.

  Jonas stood, waiting for a response from his disciples. Suddenly, he felt a bullet hit the ground millimeters from his left foot. He jumped out of the way. Moving forward, he looked for cover while directing demons, Guile and Loathing, to search behind his car.

  Seven doubled back using dark alleyways to maneuver himself behind Jonas. He found a spot with good cover and drove his mark towards the church. Taking careful aim, he shot as close to Jonas’ foot as he could without hitting him. That was a waste of a good bullet, he thought when he saw Jonas jump. “He’s on the move. Repeat, he’s on the move,” he told his squad.

  Jonas moved rapidly to take cover behind a building. Another bullet rung out, striking the cement on the corner of the building. The debris flew back and stung his face.

  Changing direction now, he ran in a diagonal direction towards the opposite side of the street. He reached what he thought was a safe haven. Another bullet hit the building. This time, the bullet struck closer to his face. He screamed in pain as bits of stucco embedded themselves into his flesh.

  Turning once again, he ran straight down the middle of the street. Bullets hit the ground, just missing his feet.

  “He should be coming into view…NOW,” Seven said as he saw Jonas run toward Sixth Avenue.

  “Got him, sir,” Fitz said.

  “Good, start driving him toward Ocean.”

  Fitzpatrick had positioned himself slightly so he favored the northeast quadrant. It gave him a much better angle with which to steer Jonas toward the old stone church that stood on the southeastern corner.

  Jonas grew flustered as he ran toward the east. His demonic friends reported to him that they could not see anyone, nor could they tell where the bullets were coming from. As he became more confused and exasperated, Jonas became more human.