“I don’t think I was out of line to disagree with and lose faith in the Father. This is our world, now. God has always been a spectator, never interested in the workings of His own creations. That’s okay; we have an active interest in everything on this planet. He may have created it, but demons have been shaping it for ten thousand years. I think, at some point, He got tired of humanity. They didn’t live up to their potential. Or, perhaps they did, and God just doesn’t want to admit that He made a mistake.
“In any event, my continued existence on this plane is evidence in favor of my theory. You all present the façade of support, but you only go as far as to protect one boy and his parents. If you really wanted to win this war, every demon who poses a threat would either be eliminated or captured. I know you have the power to do it. So why don’t you? Why do you insist on creating pawns for us to destroy en masse? If God even cares about the well-being of these prophets, why doesn’t He simply kill us or force us into submission?”
Raphael nodded. “If you cross the boundaries I have set down, you will realize that killing you is an option that has been considered very carefully, and it is an option that I have no qualms implementing. Your continued existence on this plane is evidence that you believe my threat to be completely real. Despite your rhetoric, it seems that you are quite aware of the activities God is partaking in to defend the world against your corruption.”
“All right, Raphael,” Ephippas conceded. “I won’t go near the house or its inhabitants. But you must know that we’ll not stop fighting solely because Heaven doesn’t approve.”
“What I know is that you have chosen to fight a losing battle, and I will be here, as long as it is my duty to do so, to make sure that the battle lines are clearly drawn.”
With that, Raphael faded away, but Ephippas knew better than to think that the angel had left the area. He smirked and walked toward where he had parked his car.
God and His angels expected a swift, straight-forward battle. This was the way of angels. Demons, however, worked subversively. Ephippas was happy that he would have the opportunity to teach these fools about tactics. Whether or not demons would be allowed to directly intercede was irrelevant. Alex Tanner would surely die, and Ephippas had become even more determined to be the architect of the prophet’s destruction.
***
“Come in,” Abbie said in response to a knock on the door.
One of Jeremiah’s servants slowly opened the door and peered inside. “Dr. Martin, Alex is waiting outside,” he explained nervously.
“What are you waiting for?” Nathan asked. “Send him in.”
Abbie looked over at Nathan with building irritation. “I am fully capable of taking care of this, Nathan.”
“Whore,” Nathan mumbled under his breath. “I’m not paying you to talk.”
Abbie eyes narrowed, and she slowly got to her feet. “That’s it,” she hissed at him.
“Abbie,” Salmar soothed. “Please. We must be civil, for Alex’s sake.”
In fact, it was then that Alex walked into the room. He saw Abbie staring furiously at Nathan, who, though dressed nicely at the moment, still looked as though he could do with some grooming. Alex scanned the room and also saw Salmar, who stood and bowed to the young prophet. There was also a thin, almost gaunt woman sitting beside Abbie. She had a dark complexion and long black hair. She wore a red sari and a look of exhaustion.
“Alex,” Abbie said, turning her attention to him. “Thank you for coming. Let me introduce my guests. Everyone sitting at this table is an Elder Prophet. This means that all of us have had a great deal of experience combating demons directly and indirectly.” She indicated the person who had bowed to him. “This is Salmar Bargotha. He has been fighting demon influence in Africa for three centuries. Next to him is Nagina. She has been immeasurably helpful to the cause all over Asia, specifically in India. And she has set aside her very busy schedule to be with us today. Until recently, she had been providing asylum for the Dalai Lama and Lao Shi. Unfortunately, neither of those amazing prophets can be here with us. However, Zeng Wei, a good friend to the Dalai Lama and Buddhism, as well as an Elder Prophet, himself, will be contributing via the telephone.”
“I am honored,” an accented male voice said from a speaker phone on the table, “to have this opportunity to speak with you, Alex. You have already become quite a legend.”
Alex blushed. “Thank you.”
Everyone looked at Abbie in anticipation, but she only sat, wordlessly, in her chair.
“Saving the best for last,” Nathan said.
The Mad Prophet stood and walked over to Alex, causing Abbie to stand, again, as well. He placed his hand on the boy’s shoulder, turning back to smile at Abbie, who expressed a look of pure terror.
He chuckled. “Don’t worry, you old harlot. I won’t break your axle.” He looked warmly at Alex and ran his hand through the boy’s hair. “This is not your natural color.”
Alex looked to Abbie for support, who appeared to be just as confused as he was.
“No,” Alex affirmed, “it’s not.”
“My name is Nathan Kindle, and I don’t know why I’m here. I’ve never fought a demon, and I loathe everyone in this room, with the exception of Salmar and yourself. But seeing as how I just met you, I suppose there’s time for me to come to see you the way I see them. Please, join us at the table.”
Abbie shot a pointed I-told-you-we-shouldn’t-have-brought-him look at Salmar, who seemed not to notice.
She continued: “The Elder Prophets, aside from Nathan, make a point of meeting to discuss world events once or twice every century. The first time Elder Prophets went to the effort of finding each other and drawing them into one room was shortly before the birth of Christ. Which,” Abbie added with a smile, “I am not quite old enough to recollect.”
Abbie’s countenance changed to reflect sadness. “In the recent past, we have had to meet much more often. We met six times in the twentieth century. Once, to discuss the First World War. Then again, to discuss a depression that hit much of the world very hard as well as the rise of fascism. A few short years later, we found ourselves in conclave with hopes of ending World War II and the Holocaust. After a powerful, malevolent force resurfaced, it was our duty, once more, to do what we could to stop it. Less than a decade after that, the threat of nuclear war, in addition to the Chinese invasion of Tibet, brought us together again. And, a little over seventeen years ago, our attention became focused on a new matter of interest.”
“Me,” Alex said, taking a seat across the table from Abbie.
“Yes,” she agreed. “Among other things, we came to realize that a monumental change was imminent, and you would be at the center of it all. Each gathering found us with fewer prophets than the previous one. I regret that there are only six of us still alive to address possibly the most important event of our lives. And, as you know, one of our numbers refuses to take part.”
“I knew there was someone missing,” Nathan pointed out. “What is her name? It’s something like Sopapia. She was always such a worrier.”
Refusing to acknowledge Nathan’s comment, Abbie pressed on. “We understand Sophie’s concerns, but I must admit I am a little frustrated that she’s chosen inaction. With as few of us as there are, missing even one of the Elder Prophets makes things tougher. Though, in her place, I don’t think I could forgive Jeremiah either.”
“She didn’t have to hitchhike across the Sahara on the backs of camels,” Nathan huffed. “I almost died.”
Abbie spun on him. She looked very serious and spoke very slowly: “Every person in this room has almost died at the hands of demons. Those of us who embrace humanity see a bigger picture.”
She returned her attention to Alex, who was beginning to feel like he didn’t belong to this council at all. “It is the responsibility of all prophets to aid humanity’s growth by nurturing faith and compassion. Throughout time, we’ve stood next to national and religious leaders, giving ou
r support and wisdom where each was warranted. As Elder Prophets, we have the added responsibility of coordinating prophet activities all over the world. Before today, no one under the age of two hundred fifty has ever been present for a meeting of the Elder Prophets. But this meeting concerns you in every way. It seemed only fitting that you should be here.”
“Oh, sure,” Nathan said. “Make it sound like it was your idea.”
Abbie ignored him. “I admit that Kingstone was not our first choice to take a stand against Metatron’s forces, but I believe that we can compensate.”
“I’m sorry,” Alex admitted, averting his eyes, “that my actions have changed your plans.”
“There’s no need to apologize. You did what you felt to be the right course of action, despite what others told you. Now, I should hope that, in the future, you look at us as, at the very least, knowledgeable advisors. But we have to be confident that you follow your heart. None of us have been blessed with the insight into this situation that you have. Only you may make these kinds of decisions.
“You feel that it is vital that you protect Kingstone. I admire that. We feel that it is vital to protect you.”
“So,” Alex added hesitantly, “do you think Kingstone is in more danger now than it was before?”
Abbie paused. She wanted to be honest with Alex, but she knew that guilt was an ineffective tool.
She was about to answer in a diplomatic way, when Nathan jumped in. “Of course, it is.” He laughed. “You took the battle to a less defensible position.”
“Damn it, Nathan,” Abbie hissed. “It is not your decision to make.”
“No,” Nathan agreed, “but it is my life to lose. If you want my assistance, perhaps you should not give so much authority to a child.”
“That is enough,” the accented voice from the phone chided. “To question his position in this war is ignorant. However, he has, perhaps, not had enough training to fully comprehend the gravity of his decisions.”
Abbie sighed. “With all due respect, Zeng Wei, though we may be able to continue his training, I should point out that his tutelage has come from a higher source. Second-guessing his decisions, or the authority he wields, implies discontent with He from whom Alex has been taking advice as of late. That is simply not our place.”
“I agree,” Salmar seconded. “If we cannot trust Alex to make good decisions, it may be that we need to analyze our own goals and methods. Surely, we are not so old that we will ignore the voice of the Power that gives us our abilities, based solely on the age of the messenger.”
Nagina rose, slowly, to her feet. And, softly, she addressed the council. “This bickering is leading us nowhere. We are all very busy, and I do not see why we are even discussing this matter. We did not choose Alexander Tanner to lead us. Then again, the choice has never really been ours. We didn’t choose to alter our own lives, irreparably, for the sake of that which calls us to action. We did not choose to wage a war with Heaven. We did not choose to create demons. Our existence has been the sum of innumerable decisions, made by those who have been since before the sun warmed this planet. I have no problem capitulating to the will of yet another outside force. He is young, but his youth should serve our purpose, not divide us. I stand with Abbie.”
“Compromise makes you frail,” Nathan commented with little feeling. “What this bickering is leading us to is the truth.”
Nagina laughed tiredly. “What do you know about truth, Nathan? Your existence is based on chaos and confusion. You will not believe us when we tell you that our powers come from a source greater than ourselves. You think the demons we fight are fantasy. And I, for one, find your lack of acceptance rather offensive.
“Too many times, I have seen what I love torn down by demons. Too many times, they have come to kill me and nearly succeeded. Too many times, they have killed prophets I care for to get to me. And they come after you too. I know they do; you know they do.”
Nathan stood and looked wildly around the table. “You don’t know anything about me!” he screamed at the prophets sitting there. He stopped and glared at Nagina. “You’re making the same mistake that old whore did. You think you can judge me? Would you know my mind?”
Alex felt as though he were falling. Everything was out of his control—even his own thoughts. Images were flowing through his mind like a powerful flood. They were completely unchecked by any semblance of order, and Alex thought his head was going to explode. He was seeing things he’d never seen before, as well as things he recognized. Memories that haunted him were followed by memories that made him laugh.
Pain and ecstasy were indistinguishable. His body felt like it was burning and freezing at the same time. Countless voices screamed at him.
Nothing made any sense except the pressure. The pressure was the single thing that Alex could feel over everything else. He wanted his fall to end so that his head would be crushed by something at the bottom, letting the thoughts free to torment someone else.
Then, one voice rose above the others—one he recognized. And Alex felt himself hit bottom.
The young prophet’s vision cleared, and he saw that he was lying on the ground of the conference room. Salmar’s hand was on Alex’s forehead. He could not see Abbie, but he heard her. Her voice was calm, and it echoed in the otherwise silent room.
“Nathan, an Elder Prophet has not killed another Elder Prophet in thousands of years. But your actions today tempt me to break that tradition. You attacked Nagina and, in doing so, the rest of us.”
Alex, with help from Salmar, pulled himself back up to the chair he had been sitting in. His head still throbbed, and his limbs were very weak. He looked over the table and saw that Nathan lay on his back on the floor, his mouth open and eyes wide in terror.
Alex slowly turned to look at Abbie, almost afraid. Her eyes were locked on the paralyzed body before her.
“I have trapped your mind within your head,” she continued. “I can see and feel that it is killing you, but you are a serious threat to the rest of us. If you ever try to do—to any other prophet—what you did today, you will find yourself in a similar state, and no one will release you.”
When she’d finished speaking, Nathan exhaled abruptly, and his eyes closed. Abbie fell into her chair.
“I’m sorry, Abbie,” Salmar said. “I should have listened to you.”
Abbie patted Salmar’s hand and murmured, “You were not wrong, my student. I knew this was going to happen, but we’ve resolved the conflict. Nathan and I have come to an agreement, and he’ll not do that anymore. Do not think that you were wrong, though. We do still need him, and he needs us.”
She peered around Salmar to Alex. She seemed very tired, and her hands were visibly shaking.
“I’m sorry, Alex,” she said. “I thought I had shielded you from Nathan. When he attacked Nagina, I lost my bearings.”
Alex looked at Nagina, who was quite shaken. She was clenching the table. Her eyes were firmly closed, and she was saying something underneath her breath in a language Alex couldn’t understand. He thought she was probably praying, or perhaps it was a mantra.
“Is everyone all right?” he asked.
Abbie looked over at Nagina, looked back at Alex, and smiled sadly. “Yes. We’ll all be fine. We knew what danger we were in before the meeting started, and I apologize for not informing you. I thought that I had the situation under control, and it appears that I was wrong.”
“What about him?” Alex indicated Nathan’s body.
“He’ll probably wake up in twenty minutes,” Abbie answered. “I imagine I weakened him, and he’ll need to rest for a day or so. I don’t think he’ll try that again. If he does, he will die.”
Alex took little comfort in that. “Is he trustworthy?”
Abbie shook her head. “No. But this is probably the first fight he’s lost for centuries. He won’t soon forget.” Abbie thought for a moment in silence. “We need him. I cannot deny that. If he’s been speaking to an angel, then i
t seems evident that God has a plan for him.”
“Abbie, do you have everything under control?” an accented voice that Alex had already forgotten about sounded over the phone’s intercom.
“Yes, Zeng Wei, thank you,” Abbie affirmed with a tired smile.
“I will meet Alex in Kingstone,” Zeng Wei added. “It was the will of the Panchen Lama that...,” and at this point, everyone noted the normally confident tone of Zeng Wei shift, “His Holiness be guarded, but not coddled. He will be joining me.”
Nagina suddenly looked alarmed. “You will be taking him to his demise.”
Zeng Wei’s voice was solemn and slow. “I was told by the previous incarnation of the Buddha of Compassion, as well as the late Panchen Lama, that the boy’s place is on the battle front. That is where he will be, and I shall protect him.”
Nagina sighed loudly. “We have not even fully tested him yet. This whole process is moving far too quickly.”
“We have no choice,” the faceless voice responded softly.
“I will also go,” Salmar announced, standing up.
“Nagina,” the voice over the intercom added, “you should stay in Las Vegas. The future existence of Buddhism rests on our shoulders. Neither of us should be in the same place at the same time.”
Nagina chuckled sadly. “And neither of us is even Buddhist. The Dalai Lama could have chosen a better time to be in transition....Yes, I will stay—even if I don’t like the idea of you going.”
Then, everybody, including Alex, turned to look at Abbie. She returned Alex’s gaze.
“I’m sorry, Alex, but Jeremiah and I must also stay in Las Vegas to organize the other prophets. We are going to try very hard to keep Metatron’s attention focused on us, but he will surely know what we’re doing. And it is our intent to wrestle control of Kansas City away from Patheus. However, I’m afraid that may be a long-term goal. Help will come, though. That’s a promise. Anything I can send you, I will. You are the priority.”
The Elder Prophets (To Absolve the Fallen Book 2) Page 14
