Battle of the Soul

by Carl Alves

  After Lucas left, Andy glanced into the living room. "I guess I'll just hang out with the corpses." He felt wearier than he could remember. He could deal with battles in the world of the soul, but this was so far out of his league. Dan Cooper’s corpse stared at him with dead, vacant eyes. "You guys aren't big conversationalists, so I'll just stick to the kitchen."

  He fell back against the wall and slumped to the floor. Voices came from the living room, probably Lucas briefing the other dudes.

  Lucas returned to the kitchen. "We're going to clear out of here while my team cleans up. Plus, I want you to be scarce in case they're thinking about trying another hit tonight."

  “Sure thing."

  Lucas extended his hand and lifted Andy to his feet. "I realize you've been through a tough ordeal tonight. How about we go and get a beer? If I'm going to protect you, I would like to get to know you better."

  Andy frowned. "You mean you're like a real person in there? I thought you were the Terminator or something."

  Lucas smiled and patted Andy on the back. "I'll drive. You know the terrain. Tell me where to go."

  Chapter XVIII

  Andy gave Lucas or Ezekiel or whatever his name was directions to the Grant Tavern. It was close by and it wasn't a dive. Andy knew the crowd of regulars but was not part of their clique. With no real friends other than Monsignor Curran, he had never been part of any group. Thinking about it depressed him.

  The place was hopping. Andy found a table toward the back. He waved at some people he knew and said hello to the waitresses, then ordered a pitcher of Yuengling.

  "So, is this your hangout?" Lucas asked. "You seem to know a lot of folks here."

  Andy shrugged. "I guess."

  "So tell me more about yourself, Andy. What's your story?"

  "There's not much to tell."

  Lucas pressed him. "Everybody's got a story. You grew up around here? Have family nearby?"

  Andy spoke in a low tone. "Yeah, I grew up here. Don’t have any family, though."

  "None at all?"

  Andy shook his head.

  "You were an orphan?"

  "For about a week. Monsignor Curran adopted me. He’s my legal guardian. He and the parish family brought me up. I guess you could say it took a village to raise me, or whatever that saying is."

  "Seems to be a bit of an odd arrangement."

  "Maybe, but it's the only one I ever knew."

  Lucas frowned. "Legally, how did that work? The parish isn't an orphanage, and I never heard of a Catholic priest adopting somebody."

  "You'd have to ask Monsignor Curran. As far as the legalities, the Catholic Church has a lot of clout in this area and can bend rules from time to time without much fuss."

  Andy told him about his upbringing. While he spoke, Lucas' interest never seemed to waver.

  Near the end of the first pitcher, Lucas said, "So tell me about the exorcisms. You don't strike me as an exorcist."

  "You know about the exorcisms?"

  Lucas tilted his head. "Just the Cliffs Notes."

  Andy surprised himself by talking to Lucas openly about his abilities. He was usually reserved about it, but this dude had saved his life. Lucas listened without asking questions or casting doubt. When he got to the part about Holly and Kate, Andy hesitated. "So you believe what I'm telling you about entering a person's soul? I figured you'd think it was a crock."

  Lucas's face softened. He had a distant look in his eyes. "After seeing some of the things I've seen and doing some of the things I've done, it hardly sounds farfetched. I've told you about my battles with Legion. Well, let's just say that some of the foes I've clashed with have not always been human."

  Andy raised his brows. "Get out of here."

  "You're not in this thing alone, Andy. Not by any stretch."

  "I guess that's comforting." Andy smirked. "Here I thought I was the only person battling demons. I wish I knew about this before. I wouldn't have felt so…isolated."

  He looked at Lucas in a new light. The man no longer seemed so cold and distant. Andy knew what it was like to deal with things that stretched the reaches of one's imagination.

  "Sounds like you're in a tight spot," Lucas said.

  "Tell me about it. Monsignor Curran told me that he thought the dudes who were trying to whack me were related to these demons possessing Kate. You know about these Legion thugs. What do you think?"

  "Your monsignor is a sharp man. I have no doubt that the attack on your life is related to what's going on with that little girl. They want you dead and won't stop until you’re in your grave. I can't protect you in her soul, but no harm will come to you topside."

  Andy ordered another pitcher of Yuengling. He wanted to cut back on drinking, but he needed to take the edge off after the insanity of tonight.

  "So that's my story," Andy said. "What's your deal? I thought my situation with the Church was, you know, a little odd, but it doesn't compare with what you got going."

  Lucas didn't say anything. While Andy waited for him to talk, the waitress brought the next pitcher, and Andy helped himself.

  "There's not much I can tell you," Lucas said.

  "Come on, bro. I just gave you my whole life story."

  "The organization I work for doesn't officially exist. Very few people know about us. For that reason, I have to be purposely vague."

  "It's not like I'm going to tell anyone. Hey, you're the one who wanted to come here to get to know each other better."

  "Fair enough. I'll tell you about my background. Upon graduating college, I enlisted in the army after the first Gulf War. I wanted to do something good for my country and myself. I did well, and advanced to the Special Forces. I started off with the Army Rangers. After receiving commendations for my work, I was recruited into Delta Force."

  “I figured you were some big military dude, but that doesn't explain how you got here."

  "I'm getting there. I was involved in highly classified missions around the globe. Many of these were black ops, off the government's books. I was decorated for my efforts but felt hollow inside. I…I didn't believe in some of the things they asked me to do. I was performing terrible deeds, which I would be able to reconcile if I could see the good they were doing. So, I began questioning the point of it all. I had a lot of blood on my hands, and to what end? I resigned from Delta Force. I couldn't take it any longer. So, I did what a lot of other people do when they're down and out. I found religion. In my case, it was at my local Catholic parish in Ohio. Father William was my pastor, a good man. He tried his best to counsel me, but I was a mess. Those were dark days."

  Lucas finished his first beer. Andy was outpacing him four to one.

  “So what did you do?” Andy asked

  “I was on the verge of dropping out of the human race when Cardinal Bertucciani visited from Rome. Father William told the Cardinal about me, and the Cardinal asked to meet me. I thought it a bit strange but I had nothing to lose. I told him about some of the horrible things I had done in service of my country, and he offered me a chance at salvation. I thought I was beyond salvation.”

  Andy leaned forward. “So what did he want you to do?”

  “Dedicate my life to God. I laughed. Told him I didn’t think I was cut out to be a priest. The Cardinal agreed that I wasn’t priest material, but that wasn’t the only way I could serve God. He told me my skills should not be wasted. That took me aback, since my skills generally involved killing people. That was when he told me about a secret military branch of the Church.”

  “Is this like Opus Dei?”

  Lucas shook his head. “No. You’ve heard of Opus Dei. That's not very secret. I’m talking under the radar, completely unknown. The Church would never acknowledge our existence.

  “I don’t know that I’ll ever find the redemption Cardinal Bertucciani promised. I may be too far gone for that, but I believe wholeheartedly in what I do and I’ve devoted my life to it. I’m working for a higher cause now.”

  “I w
as kind of lost before I started doing my exorcism thing. If it wasn’t for that, I’d be like a total loser.” Andy grinned. “You know, we’re a lot alike.”

  Lucas narrowed his eyes. “I wouldn’t go that far.”

  “Well, whatever. You mentioned you've had some encounters with, you know, supernatural stuff. What’s that all about?”

  "My organization battles the Church's enemies. Sometimes these enemies are people, and some come from the spiritual realm."

  "Get out of here. Are you talking demons?"

  Lucas hesitated. "That's all I can tell you."

  Andy wanted to find out more, but he didn't want to get on Lucas's bad side. The guy could probably snap him like a twig. "I still don't get how you found out about me. If your group is so secretive, how does Monsignor Curran know you?"

  "Who said the Monsignor knows about my organization?"

  Andy frowned. "I thought you said you spoke with Monsignor Curran, and he told you all about my exorcisms and stuff."

  "He did, but I can assure you he has no knowledge of my organization. He must have well placed contacts within the Vatican. His contacts made inquiries that eventually led to my handler."

  "Is your handler that Cardinal Bertucciani dude?"

  "I'm not at liberty to discuss that. I’m the one who called Monsignor Curran."

  “Oh.”

  “My organization is, in essence, the Church's muscle." Lucas shook his head. "Look, I can't tell you any more than I have. In fact, I shouldn't have said as much as I did, or…"

  Andy grinned. "Or you'll have to kill me."

  Lucas's deadpan expression did not change. "No, I'm here to keep you alive. I was going to say, you would have to join us, and I don't think you're fit to join the organization."

  Andy remembered how Lucas had taken out those two dudes back at his apartment. "Yeah, you're probably right. I'd have to drop forty pounds and learn how to fight. Hey, what you did back there was pretty cool."

  "There's nothing cool about taking another human life. I wish I didn't have to do it, but in my line of work, there's no way to avoid casualties."

  Maybe Andy had been too hard on Lucas. "So what's happening to the two bodies?"

  "They’ll be properly disposed of. With any luck, our actions tonight won't have aroused the suspicions of your neighbors. I haven't received any calls from my team, so that's a good sign."

  Andy closed his eyes. Fatigue was getting the better of him. He let out a loud yawn. "So what do we do now?"

  "Your apartment has been compromised. We'll stay at a safe house outside of the city. Do you want me to take you to a hospital?"

  Andy's ribs still ached, but the pain had been numbed by the alcohol. "I'll live. How's my face look?"

  "Like somebody stomped the hell out of you." Lucas reached out and tilted Andy's face. "I can patch you up at the safe house. In my line of work, it comes in handy to learn how to mend wounds. Let's call it a night."

  Andy nodded. "Just let me finish this beer." He lowered his lips to his mug, and his eyes went wide as he looked up at the entrance to the bar. "Oh shit!"

  Lucas's face tensed. He reached for the gun in his side holster. "What is it?"

  Andy sunk back into his seat. "Trouble." With all that had been going on in his life, he had completely forgotten about a certain debt he owed. "We gotta get out here."

  It was too late. Cesar spotted him and was walking to their table.

  Cesar glared at him and spoke in his deep-throated voice. "Andy, I've been looking for you." He cracked his knuckles. "Now you're going to pay."

  Chapter XIX

  Andy raised his hands. “Dude, I’ll get the money. I just forgot about it.”

  Cesar’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t want to hear no excuses. I told you last time I was going to put a hurtin’ on you.”

  Lucas stepped in front of Cesar. “I don’t know what your business is with Andy, but it’s time for you to leave.”

  Cesar smiled and removed his shades, revealing a glass eye. “Step aside unless you want me to put a hurtin’ on you too.”

  Lucas folded his arms and stared at Cesar.

  Andy grabbed Lucas’s arm. “I don’t think you want to mess with this dude.”

  Lucas gave him a chilling look. He had the cold eyes of an assassin. Sure, he handled himself well with those guys that had been trying to kill him, but Cesar was scary. He had five inches and at least sixty pounds on Lucas. Andy was starting to like the guy and did not want to see him get hurt. He could scrape together the money to give Cesar; he just needed time.

  Cesar pushed Lucas in the chest. “You’re either gonna get out of my way, or I’ll step over your body after I lay you out. Option two ain’t gonna be good for you.”

  “I’ll give you one and only one chance to back off,” Lucas said. “I assume your reputation means something to you. This way you can save face.”

  Andy had to do something before things got ugly. Lucas had saved his life. This was no way to repay him. “Look, I can get the money. It’s not a big deal.”

  Both Lucas and Cesar ignored him, already having passed the point of no return.

  Cesar swung a looping overhand punch that Lucas side-stepped. Lucas fired a series of punches to Cesar’s ribs and head. Andy had never seen someone throw such rapid punches.

  Cesar took two steps backward. An angry snarl covered his face. He brought his hands up in a boxing stance. He threw two punches, the first Lucas blocked, the second he ducked. The difference in quickness between these two men was startling. Lucas came back with two jabs and an uppercut that staggered the big man. Then he connected on a roundhouse kick that rocked Cesar’s head back. Cesar managed to stay on his feet and reached inside of his jacket. Andy gasped, not sure if he was reaching for a gun, a knife, or a white flag. It did not matter. Lucas never gave him a chance to get it.

  He rushed at Cesar, picked him up by his legs, lifted him overhead, and slammed him onto the hardwood floor. Lucas punched him twice to the face. When Cesar turned his back, he put one arm underneath his neck in a chokehold.

  Lucas turned toward Andy, his face a tight mask of anger. “How much do you owe him?”

  Andy looked down. “Um, two thousand.”

  Lucas let go of Cesar. He reached into a pocket and pulled out a wad of bills. He peeled off several them and lowered himself so that he was near Cesar. He lifted Cesar by his dreadlocks, and shoved the roll of bills into his mouth. “This is the money Andy owes you. Your business with him is over. You are never to approach him again, understand?”

  Cesar groaned.

  “I’ll take that as a yes. Now get your sorry ass out of here, drag yourself to a hospital, and find yourself another line of work. You’re not nearly as tough as you think you are.”

  A crowd of stunned onlookers gathered. The manager of the bar appeared too stunned to speak.

  Lucas handed him a couple of bills from his stash. “My apologies for the disruption to your business. We’re leaving now.”

  The manager took the money, but did not say a word.

  Andy followed Lucas out of the bar as the crowd stared at them. When they exited, Andy said, “That was awesome. You totally kicked his ass like he was nothing. That was so friggin cool.”

  Lucas glared at Andy. “There was nothing cool about that. I told you I was going to protect you, and I mean it. I’m not going to let anybody hurt you, but I can’t believe how selfish and arrogant you are.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You live your life with complete carelessness.” Lucas shook his head. His face was bright red. “You're an incredibly important person. Trust me, I wouldn’t be here otherwise. Without trying to sound boastful, I am the elite of the elite as far as the Church’s security forces are concerned. That they assigned me to you means you're a big deal. And here you are associating with scum like this. Wake up, Andy. You’re far too important to be getting mixed with this bullshit.”

  Andy put his hands in
his pockets and looked away. “You don’t know what it’s like.”

  “Oh, yeah? Why don’t you enlighten me?”

  “It’s not easy being me.”

  “Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You’re pathetic.”

  What right did this guy have chewing him out? Lucas didn't walk in his shoes. “When I’m in the world of the soul, I completely dominate. No offense, but what you can do up here is nothing compared to what I can do down there. I’m like Superman on steroids. Nothing I do up here can ever come close to it.”

  Lucas’s facial features softened. “Don’t be so down on yourself. What you do with your exorcisms is impressive.”

  "It sure doesn't feel that way."

  "Andy, listen to me. I've been around the world. I've met a lot of people. Most people talk about doing good things. You do good things and risk your life in the process. So what if you're not athletic or physically strong. Life is about the good you can do, how you can positively affect the lives of others. I can't think of too many people who do more good than you. Stop feeling sorry for yourself and stand proud. You have reason to be. And for the love of God, stop being so damn reckless. Accept the responsibility your power has given you." That was the most Lucas had spoken since they met.

  Andy had a responsibility. Being around Holly and Kate showed him that. "You're right, dude. I have to stop doing this crap. If you can keep me alive through this mess, I'll change my ways."

  Lucas held out his hand, and Andy clasped it. "You have yourself a deal. I'll keep you alive, and you straighten out your act."

  Chapter XX

  The following morning, Andy and Lucas drove back to Our Lady of Good Hope parish from the safe house. Andy might have thought the whole ordeal a crazy nightmare if not for Lucas's icy presence next to him in the driver’s seat. Lucas did not speak much since making breakfast at the safe house. Instead, he kept glancing at the rear and side mirrors as if searching for a tail.

  Andy was glad to be in comfortable and familiar confines as they approached the parish. Sanity was drifting back into an otherwise insane world where members of a top-secret security unit of the Church had wiped out another top secret Satanic unit trying to kill him. It hurt his head just thinking about it.