Mane of Redemption
Page 4
They looked at Michael to find that he was grinning ear to ear. They looked back to see the hand holding Lucius raise. Michael said, “Take a deep breath and hold it. Quickly!” They both inhaled and held it. The air around them vacuumed towards the cloaked figure and Lucius. When the vacuum stopped, the figure body slammed Lucius into the pavement with the single hand. The shock wave that radiated from Lucius slamming into the pavement made Michaels feel like a soft breeze. The asphalt cracked and exploded in spots around Lucius and the stranger. They could hear the sound of car alarms and shattering glass fading in the distance. Jude suspected it continued out of earshot.
Jude looked over at Adam and saw him shakily lifting himself off the ground. He then noticed he had been crouched down with three paws on the ground. He stood and looked ahead. Lucius had been vaporized at the moment of impact. The figure stood and faced the three. Michael knelt to one knee, held his sword vertically in front of him, and bowed. Glowing bronze eyes stared at them from the shadow of the hood. Adam lowered his head. Jude curled his paw and placed it to his chest while bowing his head. The figure vanished. Michael stood, Jude lowered his paw, and Adam raised his head. “Was that?”
“Christ? Yes. I’m surprised he showed. Lucius must have really overstepped his bounds this time.” Michael looked to find the two looking at him with mouths agape. “Soon enough though, I or all of us will have to face him.”
Jude said, “You mean to tell me that was Jesus Christ?”
Michael looked at him and nodded. “Yep. Does that surprise you? He is on our side you know.”
“Very true. I just had not expected to see him.”
Michael looked to Adam. “Adam, I’m glad you decided to join us.”
Adam looked to where Christ had stood. “That makes two of us.”
“Jude was right. You are loved, by many. You guys head home and rest up. We can meet up for discussion tomorrow. We will work more on training in the future.” Jude and Adam nodded.
*
Adam walked through the door to find Jess sitting in her chair in the living room. She looked up and wiped tears from her eyes. She jumped up and ran to embrace him. Her arms were wrapped so tight around his neck he could barely breathe.
“Where have you been? I’ve been so worried. I haven’t slept in days.”
As her grip on him eased, he kissed her forehead. “Let’s sit down and I’ll tell you everything.” She nodded, turned, and walked back to her chair. Adam sat down across from her. “First of all I need to apologize for my actions over the last few years. All I can do is ask your forgiveness. I have changed, and I am wanting to try and make up for my poor decisions. I can’t get back the time that I’ve stolen from you and the kids, but I will spend every last breath I have living to be a better man, father, and husband.” He reached out and enveloped her hands in his. “I have been such a fool. Can you ever forgive me?”
Her hand raised and caressed the side of his face. “Of course I can sweetie.” She leaned forward and kissed him. “Have you been hiding from me over the past week due to being ashamed of how you’ve acted over the past few years?”
“No, I was running from Lucius. Not knowing the parameters, I made a deal with him so I could get you and the kids back.” His brow furrowed. He held up a finger. “Just a second.” He stood up, walked over, and turned on the TV. A picture of himself, Jude, and Michael filled the screen. Luckily no video had been taken, but to his relief a photo could be rumored as being photo shopped. “There is part of the reason I’ve been gone over the past week.”
She laughed and stood. “You can’t really be using this to your advantage! That photo is just someone doctoring a photo to get their 15 seconds of fame.”
“Jude and I fought earlier tonight, and I was going to kill him. He told me I could still be saved, that all I had to do was ask for redemption, and live the rest of my life trying to make things better for humankind. I’m the snake, Jude’s the lion, and that,” He pointed at the screen. “…is the Archangel Michael.”
She laughed and shook her head. “You can’t seriously be trying to lie about this as your excuse for being gone for a week. I don’t believe you.”
“I had a feeling you wouldn’t, so I asked someone to verify it.” He looked behind her. She turned to see a beast that looked half man, half lion standing in front of her.
The creature spoke, and she recognized the voice instantly, though it was deeper than normal. “Jess, I told you I’d find him. He has changed and is now working with Michael and I. The marks left on his body during our fight will begin to burn and pain him if he begins to stray.” A tear fell from her eye. He walked over to her and, with a padded thumb, wiped it away. “From here on we will grow. The both of you have much to catch up on, and time to spend with the kids. We, as friends, have time to grow closer as well. I’ll leave you two to talk things out.”
He turned and headed for the window. While he was on the ledge, Jess ran after him. “Jude, wait!” He turned and looked at her. “Thank you.” He nodded and leapt from the window.