The Elder Prophets (To Absolve the Fallen Book 2)

by Aaron Babbitt

  “I have no intention of taking advice from or doing favors for an admitted murderer. You don’t sound very remorseful.”

  “Remorse is not an emotion that I often afford myself. However, I have regretted things. I look back on all the people I’ve killed and regret my actions, but not the ones you saw in the video. I told you, they were demons and would have killed many more innocent people if I had not disposed of them—maybe even you.”

  “By most accounts, you burned them to death. No matter how evil they were, they didn’t deserve that. And who made you judge and jury?”

  “I don’t ask that you like, or even accept, what I do,” Jeremiah replied. “It’s done, and nothing you can do will bring them back. At least, for your sake, I hope that you can’t. Go to Kingstone, and see what I fight for. I think the solution will be clear to you then.”

  With that, the call ended.

  All right, Sara decided, I’ll go to Kingstone.

  She would find these friends of Jeremiah and, if necessary, bring them to justice too. They might lead her to the murderer, but she doubted it. Jeremiah was right, though. It didn’t hurt to spend a little time looking. But the trail must not go cold, or she would have nothing left to track the self-proclaimed fiend.

  ***

  “You fucking little weasel,” Renee hissed at Yuri.

  She was bound to a chair in his basement laboratory. Her head was still reeling from the powerful drug he’d used on her. Parts of the last several hours were coming back to her slowly. She’d only awoken a couple of minutes ago, and her thoughts were still foggy.

  “Sticks and stones...” he chided her. “I really think we’ve gotten closer than that. Don’t you? I mean, more than just physically. I’m sure tonight will be memorable for both of us. I will get to see the results of my crowning achievement, and you got to have sex with the one man I actually wish I could have sex with, though I’m sorry that you may not remember much of it.”

  “I’m really contemplating killing you when I get out of this chair.”

  He laughed softly. “And that’s the reason you’re still in the chair. Right now, you want to kill me, but in an hour or two, you’ll be wanting another dose of that drug. The desire will be so strong that you will do anything for it. After that, I imagine you’ll do everything in your power to help me continue producing and refining the drug, despite how much you’ll want me dead.”

  “And if you’re wrong?”

  He cocked an eyebrow and looked at her very seriously. “I am rarely wrong about a drug, especially one I create.”

  ***

  Alex felt relieved when he and John stepped back onto the property surrounding the Davis place. He knew, in his head, that he was safe with John, but there was still a paranoid feeling of being watched.

  “Also like you,” John continued, “I have been Metatron’s…guest.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. I was sixteen at the time, and I was taken by surprise. He had learned of my existence by accident. And he doubted at first. We stood face to face in San Francisco before he was sure. I could see it in his eyes. Immediately, he started acting compassionate and concerned, but I knew better. I knew who he was...I remembered him from my dream.”

  “Were you scared?”

  “I was terrified, Alex. All of my protectors were away, except one. A familiar lady appeared from nothing. Nancy had come to my rescue. I felt comforted by her presence, but it was clear that Metatron did not. He backed away very quickly.

  “He never made any move to harm me, fearing angelic involvement, probably wise on his part. Nancy, or Anapiel, as I would later learn the angel was named, has since destroyed many demons on my behalf, demons who must have not been as observant as Metatron.”

  “Had he come to kill you?” Alex asked.

  “Actually, I don’t know. You see, Alex, Metatron had probably made all the same inferences everyone else had. If the prophecy were true, then I represented a situation Metatron couldn’t conceive of.

  “As my fate is tied to yours, so is Metatron’s. The other prophet believed to return with Elijah to pave the way for the second coming of Christ is Enoch, the ascended prophet who now calls himself Metatron. Elijah and Enoch were both escorted to Heaven by the same angel, Anapiel.

  “Metatron dared to ask Anapiel for permission to take me to Vienna for a brief conversation. To my surprise, and probably his as well, she agreed. Of course, she escorted me. The whole ordeal was quite intimidating, but Nancy kept telling me that I had nothing to fear.

  “The demon demanded an explanation from Anapiel. She gave one very similar to the one I gave you.” John laughed. “You should have seen the look of horror on his face. For a while, he just stared at me, trying to fathom what he had just heard and how I would impact his own existence. Eventually, Nancy returned me to my home.

  “Metatron has never again sought me. I think I scare him. I believe he’s afraid that, if he brings me into his battle, I will force a destiny he isn’t ready for.”

  Alex forced a laugh. “I wish he was afraid of me.”

  “Oh, I think he is quite afraid of you. You’ve defeated him twice, something that only Garrett and an angel have done, and apparently neither of those times were permanent. His fear explains his poorly organized attempt to shut you and Jeremiah down.”

  “So what are you going to do?”

  John took a moment to consider this. “I think I should do what may be too dangerous for you to do at the moment: reveal the existence of prophets to the world.”

  “I thought that was my job.”

  “Ultimately, the decision is yours. I think, though, that you bear a lot of weight on your shoulders as it is. I’ll be happy to lift whatever burden you need me to. I believe I’ve been called to make your arrival as smooth as possible. Whatever that means to you is likely the best course of action.”

  “I...I don’t know what to say,” Alex stammered. “After everything you’ve told me, I’m beginning to wonder if I’m the best person for this job. I don’t feel like I have the authority to make those kinds of decisions.”

  “You have the authority; you have a mandate from Heaven. Now, what you need is to convince other people of that. The Elder Prophet Council will help, but you need someone to show the people that we’re more than myth. In my opinion, you should not be the first person to step out onto center stage.”

  “Maybe you’re right.”

  “When I have the attention of the masses, I will detail your arrival. Too many surprises are going to surround your return to the general populace anyway. You don’t need to be another one. They won’t require as much proof when they meet you if I talk to them first. Then, if what I plan to do works, you can follow my lead. If it doesn’t, you’ll know what not to try.”

  Alex stopped on the steps to the porch and looked at John. “I don’t think I like the idea of someone being used as bait on my behalf. Matt does that too, and it annoys the shit out of me. People shouldn’t be used like tools.”

  “I can see how it puts you in an uncomfortable position, Alex, but you shouldn’t deny that Matt and I have abilities that make us very effective at what we do. And we’re not being used; at least, I’m not. I’m volunteering. Matt probably realizes that he is the master of his own destiny as well.

  “Right now, you need to focus on yourself. You’ve had a hard time. Use this time to hone your powers, relax, and learn from the people around you. Watch what I do. Keep whatever works for you, and discard the rest. When the time is right, you’ll know.”

  “That’s what everyone keeps telling me, but what if I get it wrong?”

  “This is your game now, Alex. You make the rules. With so much revolving around you, I don’t think you can get it wrong. I’m going to leave you for a little while. Go back to your family and friends. I’ll return soon, and I hope to have good news.”

  John extended his hand in friendship, and Alex gladly took it. For a moment, he was afraid that contact with Jo
hn might create another mental link, but it never happened.

  Alex watched John walk away, off the property, then out of sight. He saw rays of the sun start to poke over the horizon. Had he really been gone that long?

  He turned around and opened the front door. Immediately, he noticed that Matt, Sophie, and his mother were all around the table in the living area. All of them turned to stare at him.

  He laughed softly. “You were right, Sophie; that was the moment. Thank you.”

  She nodded slightly. His mom and Matt both looked like they had a lot of questions, but Alex beat them to it. “I’ll explain everything to you in a little while, after some much-needed sleep.”

  Alex’s mother smiled sympathetically, walked over, and hugged him. “You get some sleep, sweetheart. I’m just glad you’re back. Next time, maybe, leave a note.”

  “Okay, Mom,” Alex said in a patiently humored way, “next time I leave, if I have time, I’ll leave a note.”

  He hugged her back, wished everybody a goodnight, and shuffled off to bed.

  Chapter 10

  Even after as much as I’ve seen, I still find it unfathomable that one person or one event could have so much sway over the course of events in the world. Without a doubt, most changes happen slowly. Nevertheless, I can identify one January day in Kingstone as the day that altered our war with the demons forever. The actions of a few people transformed the war in its entirety. For better or worse, even the battles we fight now originated from decisions made on that day. It took a long time for the Elder Prophet Council to comprehend what, exactly, had happened. In a sense, we still live in the shadow of that day.

  --Abigail Martin, Through the Eyes of a Martyr

  Five days passed without any demonic interference. Scores of prophets had already shown up, and Alex was assured that there were many, many more on the way. Most of the prophets opted to stay in Kingstone, just not with them. However, some liked the idea of staying so close to this legendary boy, and the property around the house was beginning to look like a campground, and the campers were under the distinct impression that there was no better place for them.

  Most of the people came to the house with only the clothes they were wearing and the money in their pockets. They’d left everything else behind in a scramble to get to the newest safe house. Everyone had to be provided with accommodations, food, and information—the task of taking care of all of them was becoming arduous. After the last couple days, the inhabitants of the house—which now included Zeng Wei, the Dalai Lama-to-be, and Salmar—were feeling drained.

  The people living around the house were naturally very demanding. Most of them could survive somewhere else, but they were scared to stray too far. They’d been told that this was a safe place, and, upon learning that there were Elder Prophets on the property, not to mention Alex’s presence, they would hear nothing else. Eventually, campers and RVs were put into place, and much of the stress had been alleviated. That way, at least, they could cook their own food and not have to sleep on the floor in the house.

  Everyone who arrived came with a similar story. Someone called, faxed, or emailed them to tell them that all prophets were in imminent danger and should report to Kingstone for guidance.

  Four or five people had actually come to the house with a message from Abigail Martin that someone else had passed down to them, saying:

  Prophets of the World:

  We are in grave danger. Our enemies are surrounding us, and our only hope lies in Kingstone, Missouri. There, you will find our last bastion against the destiny fallen angels plan for us right now. Our only strength has always been friendship. Your friends now hold the line against evil in a small town in the mid-western United States for your sake. Will you help them?

  Abigail Martin

  To help with security, Higgins and many of the surviving mercenaries had been sent from the mansion. Jeremiah knew that an angel and several prophets would suffice to protect the house, but the people of Kingstone would be almost defenseless against a demon. The mortals in the small town needed other mortals with guns to walk among them. Demons could sense other demons and prophets, but a human would not draw any attention. Additionally, they would give the prophets news of demon activity and might save some lives in the process.

  Alex had not heard from John in three days. About the time that prophets started arriving, John stopped visiting Alex for chats. He said he “had to get ready for the task that lay ahead,” but Alex suspected John just didn’t do well in crowds.

  John’s unexplained absence, as well as other concerns, brought the household together for a discussion on tactics.

  “Construction to house this many prophets on this property will take so long,” Elizabeth began. “Where are they going to go when there’s no more room for trailers?”

  “This little town is going to be overrun by prophets,” Matt added. “And when strange things start happening, people are going to get scared.”

  “I know these people,” James Tanner said, “and you’re right. They won’t react well to this. If ignoring the problem won’t work, they’ll try to eliminate it. Given the effects of fear on weak-minded people, I wouldn’t rule out very literal witch hunts.”

  Mary objected. “How can they deny what they see with their own eyes? I know these people, too, Jim. They’re religious people. They’re good people. They’ll be able to accept this—and even get behind it.”

  “Ma’am,” Elizabeth replied, “with all due respect, I have lived in small towns all my life. I think your husband’s right. We will need to prepare for human intrusion.”

  Salmar nodded. “Human intrusion will be unavoidable when prophet existence is revealed to the world, no matter where the setting. Mary is right, though, too. This town is strong. I can feel it all around me. And this house is blessed.”

  “Anyway,” Elizabeth continued, “right now, we have prophets in every hotel for miles. Our count is seventy-five prophets in and around Kingstone, with promises of many more on the way. I’ve had people calling around about big tracts of land to build on. Money isn’t a concern, but time is, and space.”

  “What about sending some of them to Las Vegas?” Alex suggested.

  “Yes,” Zeng Wei affirmed, “that will have to happen eventually. For the moment, however, we must believe that Abbie has Las Vegas under control. We should send reinforcements only when we have them to spare. Furthermore, you must remember that most of these people are here to be protected. They will not be as safe in Las Vegas as they will be here.”

  “But you and several others have sighted demons throughout this area,” Matt said. “How are we safer here? It seems to me that they’re setting up for an ambush.”

  “I don’t think so,” Zeng Wei countered. “It would appear that they are patrolling a perimeter, killing any prophets they can catch who might join our cause.”

  “They must not be doing very good,” Alex said, “with as many prophets as are here.”

  Salmar sighed ruefully. “We would have no way of knowing how many people should have been here. Perhaps, the demons are very good at what they’re doing. How many demon-led teams did you estimate, Zeng Wei?”

  “There are at least twenty-five by now,” Zeng Wei answered confidently.

  “We have to do something about that,” Sophie piped in. “No one will come if they can’t even get here.”

  “That could have been the pressing business John had to attend to,” Salmar offered. “If they even know he’s in the area, Metatron might call for a minor retreat.”

  “Is Metatron really that scared of John?” Matt asked.

  “He should be,” Sophie said ominously. “When next they meet, only one will survive. I have seen it, and Metatron probably has too.”

  “Well,” Matt prompted, “which one survives?”

  “I don’t know,” Sophie admitted. “In any event, if you listen to prophecy, neither of them have a very positive destiny.”

  “If I may be so bold,”
Zeng Wei interjected, “I would like to volunteer to fight the demons on our borders. We have little hope if we cannot even get other prophets in here.”

  “I shall go with you,” Salmar added. “If there is only one demon to each team, I should think the two of us could make short work of the individual groups.”

  “I suppose I’m to stay at home and tend to the children,” Sophie remarked, disgruntled.

  “If you do not, then I will,” Zeng Wei retorted. “The Dalai Lama will not be left unprotected.”

  “Go,” Sophie conceded. “You’re right.”

  “I apologize,” Salmar said to Alex. “This is your decision, not ours.”

  Alex shook his head. “No. I put my faith in you. If you think that it’s safe for you to go, I think I would feel more comfortable knowing that there were fewer demons around.”

  “I should go too,” Matt said. “Alex has a guardian angel, now. He doesn’t need me.”

  Alex turned to Matt with a look of shock. “Matt, I do need you. I don’t trust Raphael. He’s only going to go as far as his orders direct him, and no farther. I’ve always had that ‘guardian angel,’ and I’ve been in trouble often. Please.”

  “I’m sorry, Alex. I...didn’t know you felt that way. Of course I’ll stay.”

  “And the woman asking around town about us?” Sophie reminded everyone.

  “Right,” Matt said, laughing. “Apparently, her name is Sara Card. Jeremiah ran across her in Baltimore. Until Jeremiah explained to her that she’s a prophet a few days ago, she had probably never even considered that she’s not just another human being. We are to let her find us in her own way and in her own time.”

  “She’s already found us,” Elizabeth observed. “She’s been asking questions about this house specifically. More than once, our guards have seen her watching from an adjacent field.”

  “I know,” Matt replied. “I told them not to do anything about her. Once I realized she’s a prophet, I decided that she would come to the house eventually. Jeremiah seems to agree.”