by Robert Ross
“Prohibere!”
The demon froze in place and Kellan’s forward motion slammed him into the newly fallen angel. The Sentinel cursed and released the Seal of Solomon which had become so cold that frost formed on both sides.
“It will not hold me,” Sentinel of Order. “I may not be able to prevent the Incarnation’s sacrifice, but I can do many other things in this place. In this time. I will not be stopped by a hairless, talking ape.”
Kellan leaned in close and whispered in the demon’s ear, “Guess what, sparky? You aren’t aligned with Order any more. Tell Asmodeus I said hi.” The Sentinel then slipped his glowing green dagger into the demon’s side. Without a word, it started to shake, then simply broke apart showering the garden floor with motes of red ash.
Kellan opened his hand and the dagger fell free, puffing to mist. Yeshua gave the barest nod to the Sentinel of Order and with the saddest of smiles turned back to the sleeping men. Blocking Kellan from their view, He roused them, and without looking back the three walked into the gloom of the garden.
Kellan stood for several heartbeats staring after the vanished figures, then fell to the ground and wept.
Kellan woke with a start feeling panicked and disoriented. He looked up at the clear, star filled sky and nearly full moon, then remembered where he was. He didn’t know how long he’d slept, but didn’t think dawn was too many hours off. Kellan rose and walked to the tree where he’d seen the men sleeping and kicked the leaves around its trunk. He sighed, then reached inward and embraced his emerald river of power.
Kellan concentrated and runes flooded down his arms as he opened his hands in a cupping motion. He had a quick intake of breath as a portal rotated into view, then wavered and broke apart.
Yeah, well, that would have been too good to be true, thought Kellan. He smiled sadly at a memory of Micah teaching him in creation’s workroom. In his mind, he heard his old mentor’s voice, Fixed points in time are inviolate, Kellan. You may not travel to them and no one may travel from them. The young Sentinel slid down the tree to sit between its roots and thought, I’m in time’s equivalent of a black hole on the worst day in history. That is so like me.
Without realizing it, Kellan again drifted off to sleep, the continual stress and activity of the past week crashing down upon him. Some hours later, he was jolted awake. He looked around but was alone. Glancing up, Kellan could tell it was late in the day, perhaps mid afternoon. He wasn’t sure what to do, but did know he was quite thirsty. Ignoring his complaining muscles, the young Sentinel stood and stretched, then grabbed the tree for support as the ground rumbled.
He looked up and saw a dark curve begin to creep across the sun. An eclipse, he thought, then said out loud, “The eclipse. It’s happening. Oh man, I really don’t want to be here.”
Kellan huddled back against the tree as the eclipse continued to progress. As it did so, dark clouds gathered and his Sentinel senses recognized vast gathered energies of both Order and Chaos. He channeled a trickle of power and gasped. Above him enormous ribbons of green and red energy lashed the sky whipping dark clouds into being. Lightning arced between them and struck all around him. Where the red and green ribbons met, violet tendrils would form and streak to the ground causing it to rumble and crack.
On it went becoming more and more violent to the point where all Kellan could see or hear was a cacophony of opposing energies. He held his hands to his ears and screamed, but the sound was lost to the wind as he saw a final flurry of green and red ribbons merge into a vast violet column that streaked toward the earth with a deafening blast. Silence followed and Kellan curled in a ball, mind drifting, not noticing the glowing portal that rotated into view.
Strong hands lifted him like he was a child as someone cried out, “Hurry, I don’t have much left. I can’t keep it open. Hurry Ares, please!”
A distant portion of Kellan’s mind thought he recognized the voice, but dismissed it. It couldn’t be her. She was far away.
“Shannon!” Kellan screamed as he sat up in bed. Darkness was all around him and his heart sounded like a drum in his ears.
He felt her arms around him. “Shhh, I’m here. You are safe. We’re home.”
She stroked his cheek and covered his face with kisses then just held him for long minutes and listened as his breathing slowed.
Finally, Kellan took a deep breath and slowly released it. He snuggled backward and felt her spoon against him kissing his neck softly.
“I thought I’d lost you,” he said.
Shannon chuckled, “You can never lose me,” then gently tapped his temple. “I’m always there.” She moved her hand to his chest and tapped, “And there?”
Kellan smiled in the darkness, “Oh yes. Always there, Shannon. Always there.” He rolled onto his back and could see the outlines of his bedroom in the gloom. “Meghan and Ares?”
“Both fine, if a bit worse for wear, especially Ares. I was able to use the last of my borrowed power to open a portal to you once you had past beyond the fixed point in time, but I couldn’t hold it open. Ares ran through and carried you back out but it closed, well almost closed.” She laughed softly, “The big oaf stuck an arm through and, quite literally, braced open a portal though time and space by sheer force of will.”
Kellan sighed, “Well, as he is so fond of pointing out, he is a god,”
Shannon nodded, “That may be so, but it damn near sliced his arm in half. He barely managed.”
Long minutes past in silence then Shannon leaned over and whispered, “And how are you, my love?”
Kellan could feel tears welling and shrunk down into his pillow. She pulled him close. “Not good, Shannon. You can’t imagine it. What I did. What I allowed to happen. So much power. So much love.” He rolled over and cupped her face in his hand. “I’ve never seen so much power, all encased in,” he paused, “all encased in one of us.”
She kissed him and smiled. “You are going to be fine. You saved the world, Kellan. Hell, you saved all of creation, with help of course. You love saving things.”
He smiled back, “Yeah I do.”
She tapped his nose. “Yeah you do.” Shannon sat up and looked down at him. “Guess what I’ve done.”
Kellan looked worried, “Oh no, what have you done?”
She frowned, “Nothing bad. What’s your favorite food and your favorite movie?”
Kellan warmed to the game and pushed himself upright on the bed. “Sausage Po-Boy and Bladerunner?”
Shannon sighed, “Ok what is your second favorite food and favorite movie?”
He crinkled his eyebrows, “Well, I guess, NY Style Meat Pizza, and Bladerunner.”
“Yes!” She yelled triumphantly, “And UberEats will be here in,” she held up Kellan’s phone, “40 minutes and I’ve already downloaded Bladerunner for us.”
He stared at her. “I love you!”
She grinned. “I know.”
Kellan smirked, “But pizza is your favorite not mine.”
Shannon shrugged “I know that too.”
Kellan laughed. “You are incorrigible.” He paused a moment thinking, then added, “Why is it going to take so long for that pizza, they usually have it here in like 20 minutes?”
Shannon gave him a sly smile, “Because I told them that they had better not be here in less than 40.”
She winked and he laughed again.
“Have I mentioned that you are incorrigible?”
She leaned in and nipped at his ear, “Don’t you mean insatiable?”
Chapter 21
Lucifer’s Gift
James shouldered open the shop door and glared at the jingling bells. Juliet sat on the tall wooden stool behind the front counter with her feet crossed behind the lowest rung. She glanced up at the sound and smiled as her eyes came to rest on the boxes in James’ hands.
“Is that?”
“Yes, Juliet. Fix pizza. Where’s the idiot?”
She popped off the stool and relieved James of the pizza.
“I’ll take that,” she said then nodded toward the door. “Can you put the dinner sign up, please while I take these back to the nook.”
“This is a business, Juliet, you can’t just close during business hours,” said James looking aghast at the young women. For her part, Juliet just narrowed her eyes and glared. “Ok,” said James holding up his hands, “Where is the closed sign? This?” He asked pointing.
“No,” Juliet called over her shoulder as she headed further into the shop. “Not the closed sign. The dinner sign. It’s the one shaped like a pizza slice that says to come back in a few minutes because the proprietess is engaged in eating pizza. They are all stuck to that mirror over there.”
James glanced around by the door and spied the antique floor length mirror standing to the left of the entrance. It was festooned with a variety of colorful vinyl stickers each with a stylized version of Juliet engaged in some sort of activity along with a textual explanation. There was Juliet peering out of what was obviously a bathroom stall with the words Back soon, gotta poop. Next was Juliet carrying an impossible number of books stacked well above her head with the words, Back Soon, unloading new books. James laughed despite himself as his eyes took in the third sticker which consisted of an very angry Juliet staring out with her arms crossed and the words, Hamish, we are closed!! emblazoned beneath. James wondered when exactly that one would be used, but reached for the fourth which showed a clearly ecstatic Juliet snuggled in a deep leather chair and taking a huge bite of pizza. The sticker also prominently displayed a glass bottle of Coca-Cola and the words, back soon, gotta eat. He took the sticker, reversed it so it could be read through the glass and slapped it on the shop’s front door.
James walked into reading nook just as Kellan appeared from the back carrying several bottles of Coke and a few plates. The two men stared at each other for a moment, with Kellan freezing in place, and a nervous expression on his face. Juliet looked at them both in turn, then walked around the large table between the several chairs and couches to relieve Kellan of the drinks and plates. “What is wrong with you two?”
“Nothing’s wrong with me,” said James defensively.
“Me neither,” said Kellan immediately.
Juliet just rolled her eyes and opened the two pizza boxes, grabbed a slice ladened with meat, and hopped backwards into her favorite chair. “Work it out, boys, she said around a mouthful of food.”
“I’m good,” said James. “Jarvis says you guys are working well together.”
Kellan nodded, “Yeah, I’m good too and yes, he’s been very helpful.” Kellan paused, “Freakishly helpful in fact.”
Juliet watched the exchange and just shook her head as the tension seemed to fade. Both men slid chairs over closer to the pizza.
A moment later, the front door bells jangled and Juliet glared at James. “What,” he said defensively, “I put the sticker on there and locked it. Your lock must suck. Don’t blame me.”
She turned to Kellan who just smiled broadly, “I’m the silent partner. You go handle it.”
Juliet narrowed her eyes and grumbled something about both Kellan and James being less than useless, but dropped her plate onto the table and headed to the front. A moment later, she returned with a self satisfied look on her face. She stood for a moment, arms crossed and stared at Kellan.
He finally met her gaze and gave an exasperated sigh, “Ok, what?”
“It’s for you.”
“It can’t be for me, Juliet, I’m not even here. I’m the silent—“
“He asked for you, so it’s for you. I’m going to eat my pizza while it’s hot. You can deal with the David Bowie clone up front.”
Both Kellan and James nearly choked and the two men stared at each other in alarm.
“Kellan,” asked Juliet warily, “Why have you gone all sparkle eyes?”
The Sentinel was halfway out of his chair when they were were joined by a fourth person. “Oh do sit down, Kellan, no need to rise no my account, though I do appreciate the courtesy.” The man reached into one of the open boxes and took a slice of pizza.
“Hey!” shouted Juliet “Leave off the pizza.” She slapped his hand and yanked the slice from it. She glared into the other man’s ice blue eyes and said, “Didn’t you mother teach you not to touch other people’s things?” Then seeing the mixed look of anxiety and horror on both Kellan’s and James’ faces she added, “What’s wrong with you two. Do you know this guy?” then slower said, “And how come he’s not even mentioning your glowing peepers.”
“Uh, Juliet,” began Kellan as the young woman continued looking at their uninvited guest, who was absently rubbing his slapped hand. “This is—“
“John Milton,” said the man extending his hand to Juliet. “I am sorry to intrude and even more so for having helped myself to your dinner.” He flashed a brilliant smile. “I can’t imagine how disappointed Shannon would be to miss her favorite pizza.”
Juliet had accepted the offered hand reflexively but now pulled back eyes narrowing, “Say, how do you know Shannon.” She then turned to Kellan. “What’s going on?”
Milton grinned mischievously, “Yes, Kellan, what is going on.”
“Nothing’s going on, John, but if you have something to discuss, let’s take it back to my office.”
Juliet rounded on Kellan, “It’s my office, or at least, our office. And you aren’t taking people I don’t know back to our office.”
Kellan had given James an intense and pleading look. He got the gist, rose and said, “Juliet, how about you give them just a little space and I’ll explain things.”
“Explain what, I’m already fully vaccinated from all of Kellan’s weirdness. Remember, I’ve been on the crazy train for over a year. You’re a new rider. So —“
“Juliet,” said James in a very even tone, “Let’s give them a minute.” She noticed the intensity of his gaze and stood aside as the two men walked past her and into the back office.
As the door closed, Lucifer chuckled. “Kellan, you don’t know this of course, but I have gotten so much better with my impulse control. Do you know in years past, I would have already killed that girl for her attitude let alone actually striking me. I’m so impressed with myself. Aren’t you impressed. Still, I do need to kill her. Can’t have word leaking out about such impertinence. Once you lose people’s respect and fear, Kellan, it’s just work work work.”
Kellan took a deep breath and leaned against his desk. “You aren’t going to kill her, Lucifer.”
The fallen angel raised an eyebrow. “Are you telling me what I can or cannot do, Kellan?”
The Sentinel shook his head, “I wouldn’t presume to do so. I’m just stating it as a matter of fact because doing so wouldn’t serve your interests.”
“Really?” said the Devil, “Do continue. I’m intrigued.” Before Kellan could answer, they both turned slightly at the sound of Juliet’s voice coming to them through both walls and door.
“The fucking devil. Are you telling me I slapped Satan for eating my pizza?”
Kellan winced, then shook his head and said, “Jesus, Lucifer, couldn’t you—“ he stopped as the devil smirked at him, “Why do I keep doing that?”
Lucifer shrugged, “I don’t know, but it is as amusing this time as it was the first. I suggest you keep doing it.”
“No, I’m not. That was the last time. Anyway, back to the point. Hurting Juliet or anyone close to me is not in your interests because I will go medieval batshit crazy on you.”
Lucifer looked thoughtful then asked, “What exactly does that mean?”
Kellan raised his hands. “I don’t know, but it’s all kinds of bad for you. At a minimum, I would spend every waking moment figuring out everything you had planned, thwarting that, and then figuring out how to utterly destroy you.”
The fallen angel settled himself into the guest chair, leaned back, and placed crossed feet on Kellan’s desk. “And how exactly is that different that what you would do otherwise. We
are enemies you and I.”
“Are we?”
Lucifer looked both amused and slightly taken aback, “Aren’t we?”
Kellan leaned forward locking eyes with the Devil, “I’m definitely enemies with Maurius, but my guess is that you two aren’t very fond of each other. Am I right?”
Lucifer smiled and gave Kellan a slight nod of both appreciation and acknowledgement. He said, “Maurius is certainly a thorny issue. He and I are sometimes aligned on means but not ends and sometimes ends but not means.”
Kellan sniffed derisively, “How about when he wanted to obtain all the Ordered power within me and use it to become a god?”
Lucifer sighed, “Yes, fair point. That would be a situation when we were aligned on neither ends nor means.” He waved his hands, “But that is to be expected. Sentinels are a problem. Uncontrollable. That is why I wasn’t in favor of them, but Father wouldn’t listen to me, as usual.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not going there. Anyway, Asmodeus was also my enemy.”
“See, you make my point, Kellan”
“No, I don’t. You make mine.”
“How so?”
“Asmodeus was a dick. He stole Lamia’s kids and he tried to kill Shannon, Juliet, and Meghan. You haven’t done any of those things.” Kellan paused, then added, “Yet.”
Lucifer smiled wickedly, “But I’ve done many other things. I am the Devil am I not? Micah spent lifetimes opposing me.”
Kellan nodded, “And I am not he. Look, I’m not suggesting we are going to be besties. There clearly is some sort of three dimensional chess game going on between you and God. I’m betting you don’t even know all the rules and you’ve had millennia to puzzle it out.” The Sentinel laughed suddenly and Lucifer glared dangerously.
