by Tanya Simon
Ryan didn’t feel it when he snapped his crucifix in two and the silver sliced his hand. He stood, went to the refrigerator and took down Sam’s card. Maybe the detective would believe the truth now.
Sam pulled the straps tighter on his bulletproof vest, and he checked both of his backup guns. The mayor had called for martial law, but the Guard didn’t have any more troops to dispatch. So, it was up to the city to control the streets. The commissioner had declared the North Federal, Globeville, and Central Colfax neighborhoods as lost areas. Barricades and armed guards kept anyone from entering or, more importantly, from leaving those areas. The hospitals were overrun so the hotels by the old airport were being used to house the wounded. In the metro area grocery stores were being policed to stop looting and rioting over the developing food shortage. Suburban police forces such as Aurora, Littleton, Lakewood, and Thornton were mobilizing to keep Denverites out. Clergy members were afraid to leave their homes to report to City Hall because the first ones to report had been taken by the roving mobs and hanged or burned alive. Several area churches had been set on fire in the metro Denver area. Schools had been closed as the teachers and parents had felt it unsafe to hold classes.
Sam waited for Lily and they got in his shiny new truck and went to patrol their assigned area. Things had not fallen apart quite as quickly in South Denver, but Sam knew it was only a matter of time. The fifteen girls who had died in the area would not be enough blood for the Beast.
Father Timothy Krushink knelt in front of the old, wooden altar and began his evening prayers. He cringed as his mind passed over all the awful things, which had happened in the parish over the last two years. Once again, he prayed God would show him the way to help his parishioners, to comfort those who had lost loved ones, to strengthen their faith for the coming trials.
In the 30 years he had been a priest he had only buried the elderly, the sick, and sudden deaths until recently. Now he buried children and dealt with the lives their deaths had ripped apart. Of the 15 girls who had been murdered around the city, five were his parishioners. No one felt safe, and everyone was looking to their priest for answers. So, Father Timothy bowed his head and begged the Lord to show him why, how, and what to do now. He asked the Lord if he were to die for his faith, who would lead his flock?
He was so involved in his prayers he didn’t hear the door open, never sensed the men walking up the aisle toward him. When strong arms pulled him to his feet, he opened eyes bright with shock and confusion.
“What are you doing? What is the meaning of this? I have until sunset.” The men began to pull him toward the open door. “Where are you taking me?” They pulled him out of the door and into the street.
Father Timothy struggled to keep his footing as they pulled him into the park across the street. He could see no faces; they wore hooded cloaks, which covered their features. Nothing he said convinced them to stop or to release him.
When the two men reached a clearing in the park, they stopped and released his arms. Father Timothy looked up and saw others dressed as his abductors were. They parted to reveal a wooden cross lying on the ground. Timothy turned to run, but the men who had taken him stopped him. Laughter rang out from the crowd of cloaked figures and his abductors pulled him to the cross.
“No, please!” Father Timothy begged. “I have done nothing! Please, it is not sunset yet!”
His only answer was more laughter. Father Timothy struggled to see what was going on when silence spread over the crowd. He gaped as a beautiful redhead stepped through the crowd and approached him. He breathed a sigh of relief when he recognized her as the Vice President’s wife.
“Mrs. Natasson, please, I was to have until sunset to report. I need time to comfort and guide my parishioners, to advise them what to do in this time of crisis.” The men tied him to the cross, and he grunted when they stood it up. Two other men stepped forward and together with his abductors they drove the cross into the ground.
“Good afternoon Father.” She tested the tightness of the bonds. “I am Raevanne, Shivana of the Roodmasi.” She walked away.
“Wait, who are the Roodmasi? You are the Vice President’s wife. You can stop this. Please, I don’t understand, why is this happening?” Father Timothy’s eyes widened with terror when Raevanne came back with a lit torch.
“Father Timothy Krushink, we the Roodmasi find you guilty of Christianity. As you have blasphemed against Lord Satan all of your life, it has been decided you cannot be turned. Therefore, you will be executed for your crimes, upon your beloved cross, by the Master’s fire.” She looked at him with luminous green eyes, “Any last words, Father?”
“Please, I must understand why? Why is this happening? Why are the children dying?” He struggled helplessly against his bonds.
“The Master’s Ascension is at hand. You are only one of the first to be executed for blasphemy. Eventually all the people of the world will follow Lord Satan or they will die.”
Raevanne smirked as Father Timothy bowed his head to pray. “No need to pray, you will soon be seeing the False God.” She lit the cross.
The crowd cheered, their prayers of thanks to Satan almost drowning out the screams coming from the blackening cross.
Sam pulled his truck along side the two cruisers. The uniforms were trying to break up a mob. Most of the crowd was departing, but there were a few troublemakers. A rookie cop let one of the mob get too close and a large woman pulled his gun and shot him with it. Sam shot her in the forehead and the crowd ran. He went to the rookie cop, and squatting he felt for a pulse. He was dead. Sam fingered the cross around the cop’s neck and shook his head.
When he looked up he saw his fellow officers standing around a blackened cross. Sam gagged when he realized a body hung from it.
“I’ll call it in, you guys better get back to patrol.” Sam and Lily went back to his truck, he called the coroner’s van, and he followed the cruisers out of the park. Fourteen hours after they had left it, Sam and Lily were finally home. They waited until the garage door had closed and locked. They each cocked their weapon and got out of the car. Sam quietly unlocked the door, careful not to stand in front of it. He cracked the door open, kicked it wide, and Lily went in high, Sam went in low. Lily closed the door and locked it; they checked the rest of the town house. Sam sat down at the top of the stairs and stared at his double-barred, boarded up windows. Lily bent and kissed the top of his head.
“We need fuel. I’ll heat up some chili. Does that sound good?” She went past him and down the stairs. Sam just continued to stare.
“How much more? Why can’t he just ascend?”
“The more of God’s followers who die before the Ascension, the stronger Satan will be.”
“I still keep hoping I’m dreaming.”
“You’re not.” She pulled him to his feet. “Check messages, I’ll heat the chili.”
Sam headed for the living room. He was just about to push play, when the doorbell rang. He cocked his weapon and pointed it at the door while he took cover.
“Who’s there?” He shouted in the general direction of the door.
“Felicity and Ryan.” A female voice answered.
Sam cautiously approached the door, and peeked out of the peephole. Seeing his friend and the preacher, he opened the door and they rushed in.
“Sam, I don’t know if you remember Seth and Mystery.”
“Yes.” Sam held out his hand to Ryan. “Hi, I’m Sam and you’re Seth’s brother the priest. We spoke briefly at your brother’s house.” He pointed them toward the living room.
“It’s okay, Lily. You can put the gun down.” They all heard footsteps on the tile of the foyer. Lily came into the room
Felicity sprang to her feet, her hand going to her talisman.
“It’s okay, Felicity, I am on your side.” Lily sat calmly next to Sam. “I am a devil, in fact I am the first succubus. But my love for Sam has changed my heart. I will fight with him and his allies in the final battle.”
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Felicity kept her hand on her talisman long enough for Ryan to get nervous and place his hand on his new crucifix. She studied Lily’s serene eyes. Slowly, she released her talisman and sat down. Ryan said a quick prayer and released his crucifix.
“I am curious about one thing. Felicity, you felt what I was as soon as I entered the room and reacted accordingly. Ryan you didn’t react to me initially and when I told Felicity what I am, you still did nothing. It was when Felicity did not sit down, that you finally reached for your cross. Why?” Lily asked as she lounged on the arm of Sam’s chair.
“I knew what you are, but I was in the redemption business far too long, for me to judge a book by its cover. When I searched you, I found nothing, which was a threat to me and mine. When Felicity wouldn’t sit down, I began to wonder if she could sense something I couldn’t.” Ryan smiled at her.
“What do you sense when you feel me?” Lily waited patiently for his answer.
“Power. Power which came from evil, but will do good. A soul looking for redemption. A soul that has already found love. You and Sam are very lucky.” He looked Lily in the eyes. “He will forgive even you, Lily. It is not too late for you or for Sam. All you have to do is ask for forgiveness, you already believe.” He looked at Felicity. “I’m going to guess Sam already knows what’s going on, so we can cut to the chase.”
“We came because the Ascension can’t be far off. We must be ready.” Felicity closed her eyes. “With the power in this room, we will fail. However, I do not believe Mystery is lost to us. With her, we can not only stop the Ascension, but also cripple the Roodmasi until they disappear from this plane. As long as the Roodmasi have any power they are a threat to mankind.”
“Mystery is lost. She has been by Cain’s side through all of this chaos and death.” Ryan’s voice cracked.
“No, Cain will ask her for a sacrifice she can not make.” Lily looked at Felicity, smiling when she saw the witch knew.
“Cain will ask for Jeremiah’s life.” Felicity looked at Ryan. “Mystery will not allow Jeremiah to be harmed.”
“Why would they care if Jeremiah lives or dies?” Sam looked around him. “He’s just a baby.”
“He is much more than that.” Ryan realized. “He is Mystery’s son, he has power, an unknown amount and he is a threat to them because they don’t know if he will be theirs to control.”
“Exactly.” Felicity and Lily said in unison.
“I think we should sneak in and steal Jeremiah and Mystery if she will come. When we have them out, we should blow up the place.” Sam rubbed his forehead.
“Bombs will not stop Cain. Quite probably they won’t stop Raevanne or Mystery. And if there are devils or demons in the aerie, it won’t stop them. Plus there are several covens around the world. We need to bring them down magically.” Lily said. “They are more powerful than you would expect. They have existed since Cain went to Nod when he was exiled. They have been networking, working behind the scenes to bring about this time, their whole purpose is to bring about the Ascension and to rule the Earth when Satan steals the Heavenly throne.” Lily looked around the group to make sure they understood whom they were going up against.
“I think if Raevanne dies, they will fall. I think the Shivana’s power infuses the cult.” Felicity looked at Lily for conformation. Lily shook her head in agreement.
“If you kill Raevanne or separate her power from the collective mind of the Roodmasi their power structure will crumble. Without the group mind, the Roodmasi will be nothing more than a few powerful witches and human followers. Felicity can handle most of those would still have power, for if they have any power left they will be drained by the destruction of the group mind. Ryan, I believe you are meant to stop Cain. I will fight those in their number, who are not human, any demons which are sent. Sam, a loaded gun, a few grenades, and a rocket launcher can bring down the humans.” Lily smiled at him and he kissed her hand. “Our problem will come from any surprise guests, any devils Satan might send for the Ascension, and if Mystery is lost. I am no match for her, and I will be equaled in power by any Devil and already drained from destroying Raevanne.”
They all jumped when the doorbell rang, everyone but Ryan pulling their weapon. They all took cover and made sure they could see all avenues of entry.
“Who’s there?” Sam yelled.
“Mary Kate Ballard.”
Sam checked the peephole then let the little detective in.
“Mary Kate, we agreed you would stay in Arizona. I want you safe.” Felicity was upset.
“You agreed I should stay away.”
“You’ll only get yourself killed here.” Sam said as everyone settled in the living room again.
“Nowhere is safe. I have more skills than you, Sam. I have had special training I was in the marines. I can handle myself.” She looked at her ex-partner and best friend. “I am staying.” She noticed Lily and Ryan. “I’m Mary Kate.” She reached over and shook hands with them.
“Nice to meet you.” Lily remembered the chili. “I just burned the chili. What do you want instead?”
“I don’t care.” Sam muttered.
“You got any hamburger, tomato sauce, noodles and cheese?” Mary Kate asked.
“I think so.”
“I’ll throw a casserole together, you can fill me in while it cooks.” Mary Kate went with Lily to the kitchen.
“She can help you with the normals.” Felicity told Sam. They sat for a while in silence.
“Do you know who lives and who dies, Felicity?” Sam bit his already short nails.
“Yes. But it will just make it harder.” Felicity looked at Sam until he looked down.
“I still need to know.” Sam looked over at Lily, as she and Mary Kate came back in.
“She just defrosted the meat in the microwave. She took it out, drained it and seasoned it. Finished cooking it in the microwave, poured sauce over the meat and the dry noodles, mixed it and dumped on the cheese. It’s baking for twenty-five minutes. We’ll have food. Pretty cool.”
Everybody smiled at her amazement.
“Lily can only burn water. Cooking is something she hasn’t mastered yet.” Sam kissed her hand and pulled her down beside him. “Lily, Felicity was just about to tell me who dies.” Sam looked over at Felicity, they all did.
“Dammit! Okay! Fine!” She stood and started pacing. “I saw it in the glass, so, it might change. The only survivors on our side are Jeremiah, Ryan, and Mystery. Everyone else dies. It was unclear in the glass, but only Raevanne’s aide, Serafina, and Mystery’s new baby survive on their side.”
“So, we all die, but we stop them and save Jeremiah.” Mary Kate looked down at her hands they were steady. “I can live with that.”
“This is also what I see.” Lily took Sam’s hand.
“Did you know before, when I…” He remembered the others.
“No. How could you think I would do something so horrible? I would never have let you do it, if I had known your predestined life would be ending this soon.” Lily’s eyes filled with tears.
“I’m sorry.” He pulled her into his arms. “This whole thing is making me crazy. I am sick of waiting, I want him to ascend already.”
“I know, my love. The waiting is almost at an end.” They remembered the other people in the room.
“You signed a pact with Satan, Sam?” Ryan asked him.
“It was the only way Lily and I could stay together. The only way to stop her from facing an eternity of suffering for loving me.” He looked into Lily’s eyes. “I would do it again. I love you.”
“Again, you can save your souls, if you just ask.” Ryan looked at Sam.
“Sam has signed a pact and I would lose my powers, if I repent, since they stem from evil.” Sam raised her hand and held it over his heart.
“Lily and I are spending eternity together.”
“Felicity?”
“I answer to my own gods, I’m fine. I have made my peace. I am ready for the Su
mmerland.”
“Mary Kate, wear your cross when we go. It will give you extra protection.”
“Okay.” Mary Kate stood. “I’ll go check dinner.”
“So, Mary Kate is right with your god?” Felicity looked after her small, solid, friend.
“Yes.”
They ate in silence. There was nothing anyone could say that would make the trouble to come, go away.
25
The next morning Sam and Lily put on their vests, checked their backups and climbed in the truck. Sam was amazed at the amount of destruction just one night had wrought. They patrolled Park Hill today. Usually, there were children in the yards, mothers gardening, joggers and runners everywhere. The streets were empty, the windows barred and boarded up. Sam drove up and down the quiet streets. Some houses had Easter decorations up, all were very careful the decorations were of bunnies and eggs, and not Jesus. Sam laughed, the sound eerie in the unnatural silence.