Callan's eyes were set at a glare until they moved down to his hand. The flower brought upon him memories which he wished did not exist. He gasped and began to walk backwards as if something startled him. Rufus watched him closely, having a keen eye for things gone misplaced. Callan, was not Callan in the sense of his being.
“Its seems that you have a powerful hex on you. Let me help you.”
Callan began to hiss. “The day I need help from a murderer is the day is the day that will never come!”
“I do not think you should council me on murder,” Rufus said handing him the flower.
Callan began to laugh, shaking his head fast as his hands began to curl unnaturally; the pupils in his eyes widening. He turned his back to Rufus walking away as he hummed a sweet tune which only Rufus would know; a song that he and his first wife made up while in a field of poppies in the year 84.
“How do you know that song boy?” he asked walking up on the young man. Callan didn’t turn his way, he kept singing and as Rufus grabbed him, he stood in the form of his first wife.
“Julia?” he said nearly falling to his knees from weakness. It had been a thousand years since he saw her face in the flesh.
“Rufus my love. I have missed you. Where have you been?” she asked him as he embraced her. Tears began to fall from Rufus's eyes as the soft touch of her lips pressed against his.
“Julia darling. My heart aches every day I draw breath without you,” he said, staring deep into her eyes. The world around him changed. They stood on a dirt floor in a small Roman house; the sun shined bright and the sound of a child’s laughter brought him to his knees.
“Have you seen our son? He has grown since you last saw him,” she said, wrapping her arms around him.
Rufus closed his eyes as soft kisses caressed his neck, disregarding the danger which embraced him. Dante could feel death outside of his window and peered down at Rufus and Callan. He grabbed a robe and parachuted out the window.
“Rufus. Wake up lad! It’s a mirage!” Dante shouted trying to wake Rufus from his false reality.
“Shut up old man!” Julia said as her face became monstrous. She grabbed Rufus by the throat and dug her sharp nails into his skin; tearing into his neck. Rufus pushed her off and grabbed his wound as the world around him returned to reality.
“Here good king shall I give you the prophecy of the Necromanteion. The Order of Magia Chaotica carries within it the seeds of enmity which will be planted by the hands of death, and watered with the blood of iniquity. Chaos shall indeed reign once again, once the Messiah names himself so,” she said as she disappeared into a crow swarm.
Rufus turned to Dante and one large tear ran down the side of his face. Dante was frightened and shocked as he had never seen such strong emotion from him. “What cruelty do we fight,” Rufus said sounding defeated. He fell to his knees releasing a wail from the depths of his soul. Dante sat on the ground next to him, sitting in silence as the Clock of Trismegistus began to ring.
“You miss your first wife and son?”
Rufus nodded, wiping his face.
“We lead our orders, yet there is no book which states we cannot weep. But I must say dear Rex, seeing you cry really makes me believe it’s the end of the world,” Dante said laughing.
“I didn’t mean to startle you old friend. Haha,” he said as they walked up to the Owl Tower.
“Oh, being frightened just reminds us of our humanity. And this night my mind is off in faraway places at the moment Rufus. But I know why you have come,” he said escorting him to the sitting room.
“Yes well, my original intent was to send my sympathies for the way my Knights treated your Dactyl. It seems though, hex placed upon him has opened his vessel to dark spirits including Incubus within him,” Rufus started.
“Ah, he has been a troubled lad for some time. While the night’s events may have been the tipping scale for his fall, he was only acting like that which he truly is, but no matter. There is another reason for your visit,” Dante said.
“Mhm. My Knights and I just interrogated members of Ordo Viscenti Regalus. We believed them to be the culprits for the burned witches from several Reaper Covens. Unfortunately, the Madam Crone’s daughter was harmed in the attack. But, they worked under the guise of the Order of Mopses. After the interrogation it was revealed that you had a vision, one of angels burning the earth and humans being enslaved,” Rufus explained.
Rufus's words set fear upon him, as no one knew of his repeating vision. “Tell me what's troubling my English friend,” Rufus said sincerely.
“I'm not quite sure. And I'm Italian not English.”
“Either way you don’t sound American,” Rufus said laughing.
“This coming from he who was born under the Caesars,” Dante retorted.
“Seriously. I haven’t seen you like this since I was a red coat many moons ago. Tell me what’s going on.”
“Have you ever fallen into a vision so deep that you could reach out and touch yourself? I had one of those moments a little while ago. And I'm not sure what to make of it to be completely honest. I have spent so much of my life, my existence seeing the lives and paths of others, but now that my own has been laid before me, I am at a loss,” Dante explained.
“Now you understand why the rest of us feel even more confused about our lives after visiting with you,” Rufus said jokingly.
“Perhaps. But this vision involved the Magia. I saw myself and warned myself to let the Magia be. Salamanca was set on fire and there were angels everywhere. I have never uttered a word of this vision as I wished to place no energy into it. I merely write my visions in a book,” Dante said rubbing his forehead as if it hurt.
Rufus sat up with a concerned look on his face.
“Angels set the temple on fire?”
“That I'm not sure. But they were definitely in control of things. I’m not sure what my role in all of this is, nor am I certain how it comes to be. Or if it was a true vision. I had yet to bring it to your attention because I believe it to be a message for myself. I'm honestly not sure how an Upper Earth order knew of my personal vision.”
“Divination has never been my cup of earl grey tea, but would you let me take a look to see if I can help any?”
“Sure,” Dante said leaning back in his chair. Rufus stood over him and pressed his palms into the temples of his head. His two forefingers met in the center of his forehead while the two middle fingers pressed in the spot where the brow and nose meet.
He closed his eyes as he began the Vision Tap, an old mind reading technique developed by Magia hundreds of years ago. Rufus closed his eyes and opened them to see him standing over Dante. He saw that it was now dark, and the smell of smoke raged heavy. Rufus ran outside to see that there were two Dantes, but what they were saying was beyond his comprehension.
Then he saw it. The gold dome set ablaze and hundreds of angels flying around. Rufus jumped off the mountain cliff and ran towards Salamanca to get a closer look. Chamuel, chief of the Powers marched into the temple ordering the Cherub out. He saw his Magia, including himself chained and being let into the burning building. Adonis fought hard and Cesare looked half dead as the angels drug his beaten body into the temple.
“Line them against the tree,” Chamuel ordered. Rufus became angry.
“While the tree of knowledge is not mine to destroy, I can keep it from the likes of humans. You apes have gone long enough without guidance. There is no need to pray to Heaven, as Heaven will be upon you. But I banish all witches and magicians from this earth hence forth, for it is the device of evil. You Magia shall be stoned, and as the remnants of your line burn with this very building, you will stand as proof that even the most powerful humans cannot fight the will of Heaven. And thank your seer for guiding us to your evil. For without him, the Earth would be destroyed. And for that, only his order shall survive. Any who fights against the will of Heaven will perish with you!” Chamuel said motioning for the angels to stone each of the Black Knights.
>
One by one the angels cast their spells and the bodies of the Magia began to turn to stone. Like perfect sculptures that would last the test of time, a remnant of what was. Dante who watched from amongst the choir of angels and wept. Rufus however gazed at himself who was screaming in agony, shocked when it looked like he saw himself.
“Shit!” Rufus said, as he felt something tug at his back. He turned to see what it was and Chamuel stared him in the face. Rufus swung at him and he fell back into his consciousness. Dante jumped up and gasped as he felt a stinging in his head. Rufus fell to the ground and began coughing.
“Are you alright lad?”
“I just need some tea. With lots of honey,” Rufus said climbing into a chair. Rufus's body shook and his mind was in complete disarray. He took the tea from Dante and sat silently.
“I take it you saw the temple burning.”
“That and more, but I'm not quite sure what to make of it either old friend,” Rufus said smiling, but from afar curious as to who it was he sat across from. Friend or foe.
“Well thank you for the tea, I must get going. The Round Table meets in a few hours and I’d like to go meditate before they boys fall in,” he said pushing an empty cup towards him.
“You will tell me if you have a revelation about what you saw won’t you?”
“Of course. And at the moment, let this vision stay between us,” Rufus said as he bid Dante farewell.
29
adonis and bibi
Dante knew that Rufus saw more than he revealed, and Rufus caught wind that he knew. Now, there was an unsettling mistrust for Dante which he couldn’t shake for the life of him. He reached down for his phone hoping he would be in a spot with reception. Phone signal was iffy in the Hollow as the satellite signals were often deadened the deeper into Earth's crust you went.
He scrolled for her name “Victoria” and pressed send.
“Hello?”
“Hey darling. How's my girl?”
“I’m fine sweetie, are you up here? I’d like to see you. I think we still need to talk, but in person,” she said sounding concerned.
“No, I’m in the Hollow, near the temple at the moment. I just needed to hear your voice. I needed your warmth. Some shit went down tonight but as soon as I wrap up here, home is the first stop,” he answered, with regret in his voice.
“What's wrong? Do you need me to come down there?”
He laughed. “No need. I just needed to hear your voice. I'll come home once the Round Table is over. I need to see you. Alright?”
“Ok. I love you.”
“And I love you,” he said hanging up staring off into the direction of the temple. He looked back at the owl tower and could see Dante pacing back and forth which added to his concern.
We shall see, he said to himself as he walked on to the temple hoping to clear his head before he sat at the table of the most powerful Order of Man. Before he could place his phone back in his pocket, it began to ring.
The Prophet? he said to himself as he answered.
“Hello Rufus. I pray that you are well. I know that my calling has you questioning my intent, but I must tell you while I still have time. I have made a grave mistake, and I wish to make amends with you and your order. As it stands, death will be knocking on my door sooner than I had hoped, but I wish you to lead my Mujāhidūn if the threat of battle comes while I am away,” he said sincerely.
“Prophet. I don’t understand. Why would you give me control of your order?” Rufus asked suspiciously.
“Because you, dear Rex, will lead them with honor, defend humanity until your last breath. You are a true warrior of old and now I understand your role, as well as my own. I overstepped, naively, thinking I alone could be the beacon of light of humanity. I misinterpreted the visions of Dante. I cannot undo what has been done, but as we step into the Fourth Reckoning, many of those I have given false enlightenment to will die. For that, I shall be punished, but I am asking you to lead my people in my stead,” The Prophet said.
Rufus remained quiet as he felt he had no choice but to agree. “I accept,” Rufus said sounding somewhat regrettably.
“I feel the ranks of my Mujāhidūn have been compromised. My son Malak, will not have the strength to do as he must. Watch carefully the sheeple order of Ordo Viscenti Regalus. They will arrive here at Temple Eliyon momentarily, and I feel Chris Hicks will be the last face I see as I am now. Be well, Rex, and thank you,” he added, ending the call.
Rufus had enough going on without adding the Mujāhidūn to his list of problems, but he would rather have them on the side of the Magia rather than in opposition. He wanted to get the Round Table over with quickly so he could feel the warm embrace of his wife whom he missed.
After the call The Prophet wept laying as he lay face down in the prayer room. He sat alone as his spirit was weighed down by the impending doom. His eyes bled from the pain of his indiscretions against man. It was selfish intent, not prophecy which led him to gather the masses and his celestial judge was on his way.
Dante's heart also weighed heavy as Rufus's mistrust in him hurt his feelings. He reached down under his bed and pulled out a soft, leather bound book which had upon the cover Inferno. He began to write the ghastly visions which he had just seen; and they began to appear on the Prophet's holy book.
“My dear Lord. You have not left me. Even now you give me the blessing of your prophecy,” he said as he wiped his eyes to see what was being written. Dante's words were filled with the visions of angels enslaving humanity, killing magicians and making the free Earth a virtual prison. The Prophet was confused as he expected a vision which would help him understand his role in awakening the masses, this however was completely unexpected.
“I have not the wisdom to see past my own heart. I am not worthy,” he said, closing the book.
The book continued to glow and as he turned his back on it, it began to bleed, spilling like a fountain upon the silk cloth beneath it. The Prophet threw a large cloth over the book and stand and walked out with his prayer beads wrapped around his hand. He approached his bed chamber where his wife Recia was still sleeping. He sat on the bed, watching her, wishing he had the words to tell her of the coming times.
She felt him staring and turned; gasping to see that he was.
“What's wrong love?”
He smiled at her, but she could tell something was seriously wrong. Recia looked at the clock on her side table and saw that it was daybreak.
“You look beautiful. I've always loved to watch you sleep,” he said. She grabbed his face and pulled him close.
He lay his head upon her lap loving her silently.
“You're leaving me aren't you?”
“Recia. You know the way of this world. I wouldn’t if I had a choice. I will return. Someday. Somehow. Somewhere,” he said as she wept irrepressibly.
“But why? Have you not done your duty? Why must you be punished?”
“I have punished myself Recia. This is no man's fault but my own. When the time comes, do me a favor and allow the Red Men of the Mountain to take me,” he said.
She wiped her tears and looked at him strangely.
“Also, I have left command of the Mujāhidūn with Rufus Sosius of the Magia,” he said. She gasped.
“Why would you do such a thing?! We have our own captains! I don’t understand!”
“Nor is it meant for you to. Just please, do as I ask,” he said. She nodded and he kissed her.
“Have breakfast with me. He will be here soon,” he said standing up.
“Who?”
“The Reaper,” he replied.
***
Bibi finally made it home from the Palace and was instantly turned off by the smell of alcohol. Adonis drank a six pack while he waited on her and was in the kitchen pouring himself apple Crown Royal. She sucked her teeth and walked upstairs hoping he wouldn't hear her come in as she just wanted to get some rest.
“BEEBS!” he yelled running after her.
>
She locked the door to the bedroom and curled in a ball in the corner of their room. Adonis banged on the door yelling, but she wouldn’t respond. After five minutes of banging, he kicked the door in, tearing it off its hinges to get to her. She was shaking and crying hoping with everything in her that he didn’t want to fuck.
He tried to pick her up but she fought him, scratching him across the face.
“No! Leave me alone Donnie!” she shouted, fighting her way free from his grip.
“What the fuck was that for?” he shouted angrily, checking to see if he was bleeding.
“I hate it when you drink. You can't go one day without picking up the damn bottle. I'm tired of it. I'm going back to the Palace,” she said, as she tried to brush past him.
“Hell no! Your ass is staying here with me, your fucking husband!” he said grabbing her arm and throwing her on the bed. He started tearing at her clothes, pulling her pants off as she kicked at him.
“I love you. Your so fucking beautiful,” he said, in between his forced kisses.
“No Donnie! Stop it!” she shouted, but her pleas made him that much more aggressive.
“Are those tears for me? It turns me on!” he said, pinning her to the bed. Adonis thrust into her hard trying to plant drunk kisses on her lips. Bibi could always tell by the force of the first thrust if it would be a quick five minutes or an all-night fight; tonight would be a rough one.
She knew the harder she fought the harder he'd fuck. Laying limp was no option either as he would often over power her.
This night was different. The smell of liquor on his breath took her to a place she wished was long forgotten and stirred within her a deep, suppressed anger which clawed for release. She looked him in the eye and shouted “I hate you!” at the top of her lungs causing him to pause. He looked at her cross as she began to punch him in the face and chest; busting his lip and blackening his eye.
Although he had never hit Bibi he hauled back and slapped her; knocking her to the floor. She curled up crying and he instantly sobered up.
Knights of Enmity: The Barons Have Fallen (Descending Fires Book 1) Page 35
