“Do something to help him,” Sadie shrieked, pleading with the two men. Edward and Franklin looked at each other, indecisive. Franklin shook his head, admitting defeat. Edward, however, wasn’t going to simply let Henry die without trying to do something to help him.
Edward ran toward Henry, hoping to distract the tigers long enough to allow the old man a chance at escape. Yet, in his haste, he didn’t notice the tiger crouched in the shadows watching him. This one didn’t have its sights set on Henry. Its eyes were focused on him.
When the tiger hit him, it was like being struck by a speeding car. The big cat was all muscle, sinew and bloodlust; and it was on top of him before he could whisper a single prayer for relief. Edward’s ribs felt like they were about to crack beneath the tiger’s weight, and he could scarcely breathe.
The tiger, strangely enough, didn’t attack him. It simply held him in place while its brethren stained their muzzles pink with Henry‘s blood.
Henry didn’t scream for very long. The tigers were efficient in their work and suitable housekeepers, leaving only a few scraps of the old man‘s clothing behind. Once the beasts did what they had been commanded to do they nonchalantly exited the cavern as if they were ambling across a sunlit meadow in search of a shady spot for napping.
And just like that Henry was gone.
The tiger pinning Edward to the floor was the last to leave.
Once all of the animals had marched out single-file, Franklin and Sadie rushed over to Edward, moving as far away from the dummy preacher as they could.
“I suspect I’ve made my point now,” Nero said. “That little display wasn’t quite as enjoyable as watching Christians getting devoured by lions in the Coliseum, but it was amusing nonetheless.”
“God will punish you,” Edward said, weeping at the thought of what had happened to the old man. “Don’t you realize that?”
“Don’t think you can talk your way out of the mission I’ve designed for you,” Nero said, raising his hand weakly and pointing at Edward with a wooden finger.
“Why did you kill Henry?” Edward asked.
The Nero marionette danced and pirouetted at the end of invisible strings. “Great question, little lamb. Henry, like our little fireball, Kelly Avery, refused to speak up when he could have done some good. He knew the kind of torment I endured, and he did nothing. If standing idly by and doing nothing was the way he lived, it seemed only fitting that he die that way as well. He didn’t deserve a chance to make things right.”
“Let us go,” Franklin shouted.
“No,” Nero replied. “I won’t. Not until this is done. Now, you all should get a move on. I wouldn’t waste any more time. You’ve still got quite the task ahead of you.”
Having said all he was going to, Nero began to laugh at them, cackling like something out of a Halloween fun house.
“Come on,” Edward said, putting Sadie between him and Franklin. “Let’s go. Don’t look at Henry’s remains when we pass him. It‘s best not to remember him this way.”
Chapter 25
The path they took through the bowels of the cave spiraled downward into blackness. None of them would have been surprised to see a sign that said “Abandon Hope, All Ye Who Enter Here,” hanging from a stalactite or drawn in cave art. The air grew stale and foul the further they traveled, and all of them took shallow breaths in order to keep from getting lightheaded.
“The path forks up ahead,” Franklin said. “Any thoughts on which way to go?”
“Take the left-hand path,” Sadie said.
“Any reason why you would suggest that?” Edward asked.
“It’s a fifty-fifty chance,” Sadie said. “Seems as good a choice as any.”
Edward nodded and headed in that direction, realizing the symbolism of the left-hand path. If The Slaves of Solomon followed a darker logic, it would make sense that they would choose this direction for their deviance.
They wandered in darkness for quite a while before they finally arrived at their destination. A series of rock seals chiseled in concentric circles marked the place Nero meant for them to find. The strange symbol that Franklin sported on his arm was featured there along with dozens of other esoteric markings.
“That’s your tattoo,” Sadie noted.
“So it is,” Franklin admitted. “It just keeps popping up in the strangest of places.”
“What does it mean?”
“It’s a symbol that stands for enlightenment,” Franklin said. “It’s cuneiform.”
“How lofty,” Sadie said. “I'll bet the ancient Sumerians are proud of you.”
“No need to be smarmy,” Franklin said.
“No need to be in a secret society either,” Sadie said. It was apparent from her growing irritation that the stresses of the past couple of days were finally taking their toll on her. Her usual acerbic wit had a sharper edge than normal, and now her words were tempered with fear.
“OK, Franklin, it’s your time to shine,” Edward said with a clap of his hands. “This is your area of expertise. What do all the symbols mean?”
Franklin seemed to take some joy in the fact that the group needed him now. He proudly stepped up to the rock seals and studied them for a moment, wrinkling his brow more and more.
“What’s wrong?” Sadie asked, reading Franklin’s body language.
For a moment, it seemed like Franklin was indecisive. Then, he squared his shoulders as if making up his mind.
“Franklin, what does the message in the rock say?”
Franklin didn’t turn around right away. Instead, he fumbled with something in front of him.
“Franklin?” Edward said, placing his hand on the man’s shoulder. Franklin twirled around.
“Don‘t touch me,” he hissed, shoving a pistol into Edward‘s face.
Edward gasped in surprise and backed up. “Whoa! Where did that come from?”
“Doesn’t matter. Hands in the air.”
Edward and Sadie did as they were told. “Easy, Franklin,” Edward said. “We’ll do whatever you want us to do.”
“I know that,” Franklin said, leering at them. “I hold all the cards here.”
“And you have from the start,” Edward said. “You‘ve been behind this all along.”
Franklin shook his head. “I’m not Nero. But I’ve been planning for this day.”
“I don’t understand,” Edward said. “Why all these games?”
“It always has to be tied up in a nice tidy package for you, doesn’t it?”
“I want to know,” Edward said. “Tell us how you’re involved in all this.”
“All in good time,” Franklin said. “All in good time. But first I have something I need Sadie to do.”
“Lucky me,” the girl said, more tired than scared at this point. “What do you need?”
Franklin smiled. “About three years ago, you worked for a man named Phineas Butler.”
Sadie shrugged her shoulders. “So?”
“Phineas Butler is one of the richest antique book collectors in the world.”
“I did a lot of legwork for him. I tracked down books, made offers, took trips to obtain the books. So what?”
“You obtained a very special book while under Mr. Butler’s employment and you read that book. Mr. Butler was very particular about his books and wasn’t too thrilled to have you thumbing through his investments as if they were little more than the Sunday Times. That was the reason he dismissed you. Bad for you, of course, and good for me. That book is very powerful, and Butler knows it. He’s gone to great lengths to keep it secure and hidden from men like me. Thankfully, I have you now. Since you read that book, each and every word that was written within is imprinted somewhere on the folds of your magnificent little photographic brain.”
“Which book was it?” Edward asked.
“I’m sure you’ve heard of The Key of Solomon. It’s a grimoire of dark secrets reportedly written by the wise King Solomon himself. What most people don’t realize is t
hat there is a companion volume called The Hammer of Solomon, which was rumored to be buried with the King. It wasn’t, of course, or we wouldn’t be having this conversation. In any case, it’s a one of a kind tome that details all sorts of secrets that might allow us to find out more about the answers we seek.”
“So it’s the Handbook to ‘Why Bad Things Happen to Good People?’” Edward said.
“Among other things,” Franklin said.
“If you want answers so much, why don’t you do like Solomon did and ask God for wisdom?” Edward asked. “Why go through all this?”
“I tried that,” Franklin admitted. “God didn’t answer me. So I’m trying alternative methods. We all are.”
“Are you working for Lindell?” Edward asked.
Franklin pursed his lips. “No, I wouldn’t go that far. We’re here on this island looking for the same thing. But we aren’t together in our mission. He’s got very definite plans for us while I have certain plans of my own. Now, Sadie, dear, did you read the book?”
“Butler had it translated, and it was one of a kind. How could I not read it?”
“And I presume you remember what you read,” Franklin said hopefully.
“Well…yes.”
Edward eased closer to Sadie, prompting Franklin to point the gun at him. “So what is it that I have to do?” she asked.
“There is a very specific passage in Solomon’s Hammer that details a ritual to command the first angel who will open the first vial that will kickstart the apocalypse.”
“I remember reading that,” Sadie admitted. “The angel’s name is….”
“Go on,” Franklin said.
“Alastor the Executioner. Like the statue.”
“So the vial he's going to open...” Edward said, putting the pieces together.
“Will be filled with Morningstar,” Franklin said, winking. “You catch on quick!”
“This is insane,” Sadie said.
Franklin smiled and shook his head. “I trust you’ll also remember that there is a very specific item needed to perform that ritual.”
Sadie thought for a moment. “The book says we will need some specific bones. According to the text, those bone can be found on an island.”
“The remains of John the Revelator are here,” Franklin said. “That’s what we’re after.”
“This makes no sense,” Edward said. “How could Solomon have written about a set of bones that hadn’t even come into existence yet? Solomon was dead long before John was ever born.”
“Solomon knew things,” Franklin said. “Let's not forget that he was the wisest of all men. He had access to troves of knowledge that we are unable to fathom.”
“You can't be serious!”
“Look at me,” Franklin said, staring at Edward with a cold expression that would have seemed perfectly at home painted on a theater mask. “I’m deadly serious.”
“OK,” Edward interjected. “I don't believe any of this is possible. But for the sake of argument, let’s say you obtain these bones and you’re able to exert some sort of influence over this angel, Alastor the Executioner. What then?”
Franklin smiled. “I use it to draw Nero out, murder him, and take over as the leader of The Slaves of Solomon.”
“So this is a power grab?”
“Of sorts,” Franklin admitted.
“And our mission here?”
“Hasn’t changed.”
Edward nodded his head. “Now a couple of things makes sense. You were the only one of us who wouldn’t tell what kind of photograph you received along with your invitation to the dinner party. And nobody remembered seeing you there. I don’t think you received a photograph or an invitation.”
“Guilty as charged,” Franklin admitted.
“And you’ve known all along what the stakes were here.”
“I cannot tell a lie,” Franklin said with a devilish smile.
“So you believe that the bones are what’s resting behind this rock.”
Franklin smiled again and the sight of it chilled Edward to the bone. “Behind this rock are our defenses against Nero. We get those bones, and Nero will be at our mercy.”
Edward shook his head. “You seem to forget that he led us to this place to begin with. Surely, you don’t think he would stand by and watch us take the very thing he needs without doing something about it. Isn‘t it possible he‘s already gotten the remains for himself?”
“No way,” Franklin said. “For those of us who believe what’s written in The Hammer of Solomon, we know that you only get one chance to try and locate the bones.”
“I don’t understand,” Edward said.
“The angels aren’t fond of those who would seek to control them. Alastor is no different.”
“According to the book,” Sadie interrupted, “Alastor will smite those who choose incorrectly. We only get one shot at this.”
Franklin motioned to Edward with the gun. “There’s a hammer behind those rocks over there. Grab it and break the correct seal. Sadie has read the book so she will know which of the seals holds the key to our mission.”
“I remember the instructions,” Sadie said. “Behind some of the seals is instant death. Behind one, however, is the key.”
“Why don’t you do this yourself?” Edward asked Franklin. “Why do I have to do it?
“I‘m not ready to meet Alastor face to face yet,” Franklin said. “If one of the angels from Revelation is going to show up, I’d rather him be ticked off at you instead of me. You‘re an insurance policy. Nothing more.”
“Surely Lindell doesn’t think you’re an idiot,” Edward reasoned. “By allowing you here, he would know you posed a threat against him.”
Franklin nodded. “It’s all a game to him. He sees me as a challenge. However, he’s egomaniacal and narcissistic. He doesn’t think I have what it takes to the lead the group or what it takes to get rid of him. But enough about all this. Grab the hammer. Sadie, which seal does Edward need to break?”
Sadie studied all of the symbols intently. They were arranged in a honeycombed pattern on the limestone wall. No doubt there were recesses in the rock behind each seal, holding some sort of danger or another clue about angels. She pointed to one. “That’s the one described in the passage,” she said.
“Are you sure?” Edward asked. “I’m not ready to see Alastor the Executioner face to face either.”
“I’m sure,” Sadie said. “You can trust me.”
Edward didn’t move right away, and Franklin fired a warning shot. Edward got the message and moved quickly. The hammer was heavy, and Edward was tired. But he managed to break the seal on the second try.
Behind the seal was a recess in the rock. Edward reached in carefully, uncertain of what might be waiting there. He kept expecting to reel back in pain, but nothing bit him, cut him, or grabbed him.
“There’s nothing in here,” Edward said. “It’s empty.”
Franklin rammed the gun into his face. “Don’t toy with me. I’m not an idiot.”
“See for yourself,” Edward said, stepping out of the way.
Franklin kept the gun trained on Sadie and Edward while he reached inside and felt around. When he saw that Edward was telling the truth, he snarled and pointed the gun at Sadie.
“This isn’t the right one,” he said. “You did this on purpose.”
“It’s the one that was mentioned in the book,” Sadie said. “I promise. Besides, I actually believe in all this stuff. Do you think I want to face a righteously peeved death angel if I don‘t have to? I wouldn’t lie to you if it meant endangering my own life.”
Franklin huffed and thought about it for a moment. “I don’t understand. It doesn’t make any sense. The reason you were brought to this island is because of your knowledge of the Phineas Butler text. Nero knew you would be able to lead the group to the remains of John the Revelator, and he could use that relic to exert some sort of influence over Alastor. But you’ve told us where to look, and there’
s nothing there.”
“We’re missing something,” Edward said. “If what you say is true, we must have picked the correct seal. Alastor the Executioner hasn’t shown up yet to smite any of us. Maybe you're wrong about everything.”
“It's not possible that I'm wrong about any of this,” Franklin said. “Maybe we missed something. Edward, check again.”
Edward reached in without hesitation this time. He pushed his arm in all the way to the shoulder, pressing against the rock, trying to gain a few more inches. “Wait,” he said at last. “I think I’ve found something.”
The parchment he pulled out was old and brittle. But it was legible. “It‘s a verse from the Bible.”
“What does it say?” Franklin asked, still pointing the gun firmly at his head.
“So the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning until the appointed time; and seventy thousand men of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. When the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord relented from the calamity, and said to the angel who destroyed the people, ‘It is enough! Now relax your hand!’ And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Arunah the Jebusite." (II Samuel 24:15,16)”
“It confirms what I’m saying,” Franklin said. “Nero wants to use the angel to bring about mass destruction. It’s certainly within the angel’s power to do so. This verse confirms it.”
“But it doesn’t tell us anything about where the bones are located,” Edward said. “Besides, you can't control an angel. That power rests with God and God alone.”
“We may still be able to figure out where the bones are located,” Sadie said. “Look at the symbols that have been chiseled into this wall.”
“What about them?”
“The symbols are drawn in concentric circles. In rings. There are nine circles. There are nine orders of angels according to the text.”
“These are the same nine orders you mentioned when we were trying to choose a wire earlier,” Edward said. “Solomon's Hammer and Dionysius the Areopagite seem to agree on that.”
The Tears of Nero (The Halo Group Book 1) Page 15
