by Alex Siegel
"Tell us about your past, child," Rathanael said. "How did you come to this place?"
"What do you mean? You drugged me and brought me here in a box."
"No. Start with your childhood."
Diana looked at the others in the room. She was obviously reluctant to tell her life story.
"Just so you know," Rathanael said, "I value truth above all other things. The truth will set you free. Do not lie to me, and most of all, don't lie to yourself. A new road lies before you, and the first step is honesty. The old road leads only to death, and I'm not speaking metaphorically. I am fully prepared to have you killed here and now if I decide you can't be salvaged. Consider your next words carefully."
She frowned but eventually seemed to reach a decision. "I guess it's not a big secret. My parents were Satanists. I grew up worshipping the Devil. Evil has always been a big part of my life."
Stony felt bad for her. Darkness had taken her before she could make a choice.
"But you embraced evil," Rathanael said.
"I wanted the approval of my parents," Diana said. "They encouraged me to commit crimes, so I stole things."
"What things?"
"Clothes, jewelry, cars. I also did nasty practical jokes."
"More than just jokes," Rathanael said. "Somebody died."
"That was an accident!"
"You created a situation where death was a realistic possibility."
Diana looked down. "I guess," she said in a sullen tone. "And I dealt drugs as a teenager. That's how I got my spending money."
Stony could imagine her as a successful drug dealer. With her blue eyes, red hair, and pretty face, she would get invitations to all the best parties. Selling narcotics to her friends would make her even more popular.
"Were you ever arrested?" Rathanael said.
"No. I was too smart. The cops stopped me a few times, but I always talked my way out of it. They just couldn't believe a cute little girl was so bad." She batted her eyelashes.
Stony sighed. Men can be so stupid, he thought.
"Then what happened," Rathanael said.
"When I was nineteen, my father sold me to Orcus."
"Sold you as a slave?"
Diana nodded. "For two ounces of gold. Orcus put the collar on me right away, and then I was stuck. I was his permanent servant." She sounded bitter.
"Did he mistreat you?"
"He punished me every time I didn't do exactly what I was told. The collar kept me from running away or fighting back. I quickly learned to obey without question. I became a perfect slave. That was four years ago."
Stony tried not to think about the waking nightmare of her life with Orcus. The idea made Stony too angry.
"Was it all bad?" Rathanael said.
Diana paused. "Not all of it. I learned arcane secrets. I gained power. I soaked up all the black magic that Orcus offered me. I became stronger, tougher, faster. I learned how to control animals, and eventually, I could turn into a panther."
"Ah. Tell us more about that. We know Orcus had three slaves. Could they all turn into animals?"
She hesitated, and Stony realized this was a big step for her. She was about to betray people she had lived with for several years. Most of all, by revealing secrets, she was turning her back on Orcus.
"Flora can turn into a hyena," Diana eventually said. "Pomona can become a wolf."
"We killed a pack of hyenas," Stony said. "One of them turned into a woman."
She spun around and faced him. "What? You killed Flora?"
"She attacked." He shrugged. "We defended ourselves. You're lucky I didn't kill you, too."
Diana had a stricken expression, and he sympathized. He expected she had formed a strong bond with her fellow slaves, like soldiers with a common enemy.
"Orcus is a master of animal magic," Rathanael said. "We must watch for strange occurrences involving animals. They may be a sign of his involvement. Can he become an animal, too?"
She nodded. "A grizzly bear."
Stony raised his eyebrows. That could be a problem.
Rathanael turned to Veronica. "Did she tell the truth?"
"Yes," Veronica replied in a grudging tone. "So far." She actually sounded disappointed that Diana had passed a test.
"How do you know?" Diana said.
Veronica kept her mouth shut.
"Just tell her," Stony said. "We have to demonstrate trust."
Veronica rolled her eyes. "Body language," she told Diana. "Stress in your voice. The way your eyes move. When people lie, they show it in a hundred little ways, and I see all of them. Nobody can fool me."
"Wow," Diana said. "That's pretty cool."
"I want to proceed with the ceremony," Rathanael said. "We will continue to discuss Orcus afterwards."
"What ceremony?" she looked at the angel.
"It starts with an oath. You have to formally declare your loyalties."
"Oh. What should I say?"
"That's up to you," Rathanael said.
"Isn't there a standard little speech? Oaths are usually written down or memorized."
"Not this one. All members of the third division come here in their own way. The oath is just as personal."
Diana stared at him for a long moment. "Is this some kind of test? If I don't give a good oath, I'll go back to prison?"
The angel smiled. "Your intelligence is one of your finer assets. Yes. From now on, everything you do will be a test. Every step must be towards the light. I want to hear an inspiring oath. Veronica will tell me if it's a lie, and I'm also pretty good at reading body language. I've been observing humans for thousands of years, so be completely honest."
Diana bit her lip.
"I know this is hard for you," Rathanael said. "You've had a terrible life full of fear and brutality. You've learned to withhold your trust and hide your feelings. But you're with friends now. Open your heart. I can see the good there."
She had a pained expression.
Stony had clear memories of being in exactly the same situation. The time for messing around was over. She had to say the oath properly and mean it. The next words out of her mouth could begin her new life or end it. He waited anxiously. If she failed and died, he would bear some responsibility because it had been his job to recruit her.
She looked at the faces around her. "Do I get a hint?"
"Reach deep down," Rathanael said. "Find the truth and express it. Take your time. There is no rush. Imagine the life you want instead of the life you left behind."
Diana closed her eyes. Stony was silently pulling for her. He already liked her and wanted her on his team.
"I will fight for Heaven," she said slowly. "Not as a slave or a servant, but as a free warrior. I'm ready to make a change. I'll use my powers for good. I'll never turn my back on my friends. I'll stop committing crimes. I'll try to make up for all the bad things I've done, the people I hurt, the lives—" She sniffed. "—the lives I destroyed. I never wanted to kidnap those children. So much blood. So much pain. I can hear the screams. I can see the faces...." She fell silent.
Everybody waited for her to continue. The only sound was air blowing through the ventilation system.
After a minute, she looked at Rathanael with tears on her cheeks. "I'll do better. I'll do much better!"
He reached out and pulled her against his chest. He covered her with his wings, and Stony heard soft sobbing.
Another step, he thought. A thousand more to go.
After allowing Diana to cry for a little while, Rathanael spoke into her ear, "I'm afraid I have to hurt you now."
"Huh?" She looked at him. "My oath wasn't good enough?"
"It was satisfactory, but the ceremony isn't over."
"What do you mean?"
"I'll make it quick." The angel nodded to Stony and Brian.
The two men stepped forward and grabbed Diana by the arms. They pulled hard so she couldn't move.
"Hey!" she cried. "What's going on? That hurts!"
&nbs
p; Rathanael lifted the back of her shirt with his left hand. He raised his right hand, and it glowed brilliant white. He muttered a word in some ancient, dead language. Then he brought his hand down and struck her bare back.
Stony heard sizzling flesh. Diana screamed in pain, and he knew what she was feeling. He had experienced the same unbearable agony years ago. The angel's mark went deep into the flesh all the way down to the soul. It could change a person's life.
Rathanael stepped away.
A pattern was burned into Diana's back as if made by a branding iron. Symmetric lines and small circles formed an angelic symbol. Tiny marks crossed the lines in places, and a sword was drawn in the center.
"What did you do to me?" she sobbed. "You hurt me!"
"I marked you as a member of this team," Rathanael said.
Stony let go of Diana's arm. She reached around, touched the mark, and shrieked.
"The pain will fade," Rathanael said. "Be brave in the meantime. The symbol serves several purposes. It is a talisman of good and will keep demons from harming you. You are now immune to infernal influence. All demons will know you're under my protection. It is a powerful blessing, not a punishment."
She obviously didn't care about that now. She hurt too much and was fighting to keep from crying. Stony remembered it felt like being stabbed with a red-hot iron spear. He had wondered if he would die.
"One more thing you need to know," the angel added. "Look at me."
Diana wiped her nose and sniffled.
"Look at me!" Rathanael said.
She finally faced him. Her eyes were bright red.
"Think of the mark as a divine tracking device. I will always know exactly where you are." He grabbed her shoulder and pulled her close. "If you betray us, there is nowhere on Earth where you can escape my wrath. I will destroy you. I am a vengeful angel."
He let her go, and she staggered backwards.
"What does it look like?" she eventually said in a broken voice.
Stony pulled off his shirt and turned around. "Like this. We all have the same one. Welcome to the team."
He felt her reach up and softly touch the mark on his back.
Everybody waited for Diana to calm down. Stony left the room, found a box of facial tissue in another office, and brought it back to her. She blew her nose and gave him a look of gratitude.
"Back to the business at hand," Rathanael said. "What is the name of the demon who Orcus serves?"
Diana looked at him with a fearful expression.
"You can speak the name safely. He won't hear you."
She didn't appear very assured, but she eventually whispered, "Forneus." She quickly looked around.
Rathanael sneered. "The Master of Tongues. A familiar foe."
"Does knowing the name help?"
"Certainly. The PEA employs many priests who have received special training from me. They can perform a ceremony which will keep Forneus trapped in Hell until we catch Orcus. Your former master will have to fight on his own."
"Oh. Nice." Diana smiled a little.
"I must make the arrangements immediately. Continue without me."
"Yes, sir," Stony said.
Rathanael rushed out of the office, leaving the members of the third division alone. Stony exhaled with relief. Being near the angel made him tense. He was always worried he would say the wrong thing.
Veronica took an aggressive step forward. "How do we find Orcus?" she demanded.
Diana faced her. "I don't know."
"You must know!"
"He just ordered me to protect the house. I didn't even realize he had escaped until somebody told me. I have no idea where he went."
"I don't believe you," Veronica said, "stupid bitch."
"Hey!" Stony said. "Chill out."
"What did I do to you?" Diana complained. She sounded too worn down to engage in a fight.
Veronica set her jaw. "Ace died last night. I loved him."
"I'm sorry, but I didn't kill him. I was just following orders anyway. I had no choice."
Veronica muttered to herself.
"Have you told us everything?" Stony said.
"I think so," Diana said. "I'm very tired though. My brain is kind of fuzzy."
He gave her a sympathetic smile. "That's alright. You have every right to be exhausted after all you've been through. Let's go pick out an apartment for you. You can sleep for a few hours, shower, and change. We'll talk again when you've rested."
"My," Mia said. "Aren't we being sweet to the new girl?"
Stony looked at her. "Huh? What's wrong."
"Nothing. Let's just get her to bed."
"Uh, Stony," Brian said, "she needs a guard."
Stony looked at Diana and frowned. Even though she had sworn a sincere oath of loyalty, she still wasn't considered trustworthy. Until she proved herself, another member of the third division would keep an eye on her at all times.
"Could you take the first shift?" Stony said. "Mia and I are still strung out after last night. We could use a nap too."
"Sure," Brian said. "No problem."
Stony opened the door, expecting to find the armed escort he had left in the hallway. It turned out Director Robertson was also waiting there.
The director looked at Diana. "She's not dead or in prison. Looks like your team has a new member."
Stony nodded. "It's good news."
"We could use some."
Diana stepped into the hallway with a curious expression.
"Hi." Robertson shook her hand. "I'm Director Pete Robertson, chief of the PEA and your new boss."
"I thought Rathanael was in charge," she said.
"I suppose that's true, but officially, I run the show. Rathanael is more of a... spiritual overseer."
"I see." She furrowed her brow.
"What's the status of the investigation?" Stony said.
"I have five hundred agents scouring all of East Texas," Robertson said. "So far, no nibbles. Looks like Orcus went to ground. Do you have any helpful suggestions?" He looked at Diana.
She shook her head. "Orcus never told me his plans, and I never asked. I just followed orders like a good, little slave. Asking too many questions was a quick way to get whipped." She wiggled her shoulders and grimaced as if remembering pain. "I do know he's very intelligent. You can expect him to do something clever and nasty."
He snarled.
"We're taking her to her room," Stony said.
"Then go." Robertson waved his hand dismissively. "We'll talk again later."
The members of the third division took an elevator to the thirteenth floor. They stepped out near the small library that the team was supposed to use for personal enrichment and education. Rathanael had personally selected the books in the library, and they were all inspirational religious texts. Stony hadn't read a single one.
"Which room will we give her?" Brian said.
"The apartment next to Mia and me is open," Stony suggested.
"No," Mia said in a very firm tone. "She will not live next to us. She gets the vacancy in the southwest corner, next to Kane's room."
He gave her a curious look. He didn't understand why she was being so adamant, but he knew better than to argue with her about such a minor point.
"Sure," he said. "Diana, look around. This is your new home. The whole floor is ours."
"What?" Diana's eyes widened.
"That's right. It's our private space. Nobody bugs us up here. Follow me."
The group walked past the windows of a room with a narrow swimming pool. Three long lanes were perfect for laps.
The strength and conditioning gym came next. The room contained treadmills, ellipticals, and other fitness machines. Steel hand weights and barbells lay on racks. More complicated equipment was available, some of it electronic, but Stony preferred to throw around heavy iron.
The group passed through an intersection and came to the recreational room.
Stony pointed through the open door. "That's where we
hang out and relax."
The room contained two large televisions, each attached to video game consoles. Seeing the games reminded Stony of Ace, and he felt a stab of painful sadness. Overstuffed couches and chairs provided inviting places to sit and chat. A ping-pong table and a foosball table had both served as arenas for legendary tournaments.
"I can just sit and watch TV?" Diana said in a tone of wonder. "I don't have to be a servant all the time?"
"Nope," Stony said. "To be honest, our lives are pretty soft most of the time. We get long breaks between assignments."
"Aren't the missions a full-time job?"
"The regular agents handle the grunt work. We just hang out here, waiting for the call to action. When we go, we hit hard and fast."
They walked past another room with a closed door.
"That's our costume closet."
"What do you need costumes for?" Diana said.
"We occasionally work undercover," Stony said. "We need something to wear. Here is your apartment."
The group entered an apartment where the hallway turned a corner. The place was identical to Stony's and Mia's with a large bedroom, a bathroom, and a closet.
"Wait," Diana said. "This room is just for me?"
"Yes," Stony said. "We have tons of space up here. Nobody has to share, unless they want to."
"I've never slept alone. Growing up, I always shared a room with a brother or a sister. We lived in a small house."
"And I expect Orcus didn't leave you alone either. The sick bastard probably raped you every time he felt like it."
She shook her head. "No. He did many awful things to me, but never rape. We didn't have sex at all."
"That's a little hard to believe." Stony raised his eyebrows.
"He saved all his semen for ceremonies."
"What do you mean?"
"He liked to masturbate onto sacrifices right after he killed them," Diana said calmly, as if this behavior were normal.
Stony exchanged glances with his friends. "That's disturbing. Anyway, this is your room now. You can use the shower. We get maid service, so fresh towels should be in the bathroom. Take a nice, long nap. You're perfectly safe here. Brian will be right outside the door."
"Inside the door," Brian said. "I have to watch her all the time."
Stony smiled apologetically to Diana. She probably didn't like the idea of a strange man in her bedroom while she slept.