Unlocked

by Kevin Solomon Missal

  “So if I remove this ring my problems will be solved?” He nodded. “Absolutely.”

  She yanked her hand out of Caspar’s grasp and prepared to pull off the ring. Siphon gently touched her hands and said, “You can take the ring off, but not

  yet. Caspar, this is the Holy Sword.”

  Sharp gasps erupted throughout the entire room. Siphon explained that when Michael gave Solomon the Sword, he’d crafted the sword into the shape of the ring so no one would know about it. It was the only way he knew of in order to keep it hidden it from everyone else.

  Caspar smiled. “It’s done, then. We’ve done it. We have to kill Lucifer now. Yes. Right now!”

  Everyone nodded. Ivy hurried to her room to change into her battle gear. Harvard sought a new set of clothes. Balthazar made his way to Caspar’s room to pull on his belt with the knife attached to it. Fib followed Ivy with Hope in tow so that she could give them something to do. Capernaum remained still upon the sofa, muttering to himself.

  When everyone had gone, Siphon said, “Vivian is with...She’s with Lucifer right now.”

  Caspar understood his plight. He knew Siphon loved Vivian and would do anything to keep her safe. The fact that she was held captive against her will was not lost on either of them. He’d do everything possible to get the Prophet back in one piece.

  “We are going there. We’ll be able to stop him from hurting her, Siphon. We can’t do anything better than that,” Caspar said mildly.

  Initially he hated all this love and relationship stuff, but seeing the way the two inseparable lovers were with each other, he wanted to help them. Siphon beamed, though his smile wasn’t as joyous and enthusiastic. It was a little weak and sadness pervaded within it. Though, there were hints of hope within his eyes.

  He turned away from him and looked at Capernaum, whose hand had risen into the air and was now beckoning him. Caspar knelt down beside him. Capernaum’s skin was no longer pale. He smiled and clasped his friend’s hand.

  “He requested that I give him more time,” a sharp voice replied from the back of the room.

  Caspar looked up to find Death hovering in a corner. He looked weak and tired just like everyone else. “Where the hell were you?” he grated.

  “Right now, you shouldn’t ask me the questions. You should talk to Capernaum. Personally, he prayed to me so that he could be given some more time.”

  Caspar had seen him muttering to himself. The thought that he was praying to Death for more time hadn’t crossed him mind.

  “What is it that you have to tell me?” he asked Capernaum.

  “You never trusted me, Caspar. I can understand that. I am a demon. No one trusts a demon. But you should know one thing . . .” He swallowed nervously to dislodge the lump in his throat. “I wasn’t always a demon.”

  Caspar’s heart raced upon hearing that. Capernaum resembled a demon, yet he confirmed he wasn’t. He was a tad confused and brought his ear close to Capernaum’s lips.

  “I was born as an angel. I was an archangel and had many brothers. Uriel, Raphael, Gabriel, Michael – they all knew me. We used to have fun together and played with Cherubims or Malachim, who are the lower class of angels. We were to be very happy until something happened to change all that.

  “I was given a duty to perform by Michael, the eldest of us all, to help the king of Crete, Minos. I hope you know about Minos or Crete. It is all connected to the Minotaur and Theseus which we see in storybooks nowadays. At that time, I was helping him with defeating demons, when I met his daughter, Ariadne. She was young and beautiful and I fell for her. I loved her. I didn’t care about anything else except her and she felt the same way.”

  He took a deep breath. It was too much for an old man to speak. He held his breath for a moment and then continued, “Minos found out about our forbidden relationship. He didn’t want Ariadne to fall for an angel who was immortal and would

  leave her once she got get old. Minos informed my brothers of the occurrence, complaining to the eldest of us, Michael.

  “He was angry. He said I broke the law and that I had a forbidden relationship with a mortal. It was then that I realized Michael hated me. I still don’t know why. Perhaps, I took all of the attention from him or perhaps everyone loved me and everyone thought he was an angel with no brains of his own. He hated me so much that he ripped my wings off and tossed me out of Heaven.

  “I became a fallen angel just like Lucifer. I had no place to go. Ariadne was dead and I was all alone. Lucifer and I met. He wanted me to join his army, to be a demon, to become stronger. I agreed to be an ultra-demon. I didn’t agree because I had no place to go, but because I could be a mole inside to know things and help the angels out.

  “I did it because of my race. My race punished me for falling in love, but I helped them for so long. I thought I was doing right by them, but even now they do not care. I continue helping them, none-the-less. And that is the reason, Caspar, I never call Lucifer my creator, because he wasn’t my creator, he never was. He was always the bad one and I knew that.

  “I helped you – everyone because deep in my heart, I was still an angel, the same young fellow who used to throw golden apples at the female angels in Heaven. I was still that fool. As I lay dying right now, I have no regrets because I have served the angels and my Mother Earth well. I did it well. I did it good. And Caspar, from all of this, I learned one thing.” He paused.

  Somehow, Caspar knew what he said next would be his final words. So he listened carefully, ignoring the sudden blurriness within his eyes. Tears...He’d never

  shed any before. Yet here he was, shedding tears for a demon – no, an angel who had come to mean something to him in more ways than one in so short a time.

  “I learned that people always look at the mistakes you have committed in the past, but they never look at the deeds you have done in the present.” He smiled softly. Caspar knew it was the last smile he’d ever see from him. “Farewell, Caspar Socrates. I am sure you will defeat Morningstar because we believe in you. I believe in you!”

  His eyes closed and his chest shuddered as he took his last breath. For a moment, it sounded as if there was something being knocked around inside his chest. With one last heave, the sound dissipated and Capernaum lay still.

  Caspar lowered his head and wept, tears streaming down his cheeks as he gave him in to the pain welling up within him. Death approached him and patted him gently on the shoulder before he drew Capernaum up. He watched as Capernaum’s soul pulled from his body. Death’s face was devoid of emotion as he caught Capernaum’s spirit and guided him through the portal. The last thing Caspar saw before he disappeared was a wave from the angel.

  Re

  velations

  Ivy stood at the ready dressed in her combat gear. Fib was wearing a long purple coat and held a long wooden wand within his hand. Balthazar’s belt was wrapped snugly about his waist. Harvard looked normal dressed in his simple clothes. Siphon had tugged on his rugged jacket and lounged in a corner, waiting for the order to move to be given. Caspar dangled his satchel in one hand and used the other to hold the cane Death had gifted him against his chest.

  “He didn’t die a demon’s death, but that of a hero. After all of this is over, we hope to give him a proper burial,” Caspar announced. “But for now, we need to go.”

  Before they departed, Caspar had a little talk with Death who had quietly re-entered the House of David. Caspar kept the conversation with Death quiet, not wanting anyone to hear even a whisper of what he had to say. When the proceedings were over, Balthazar saw Caspar pass a small note to Death who nodded in return. Death soon disappeared and Caspar returned to the room.

  No one asked what their talk was about. Everyone was scared. Balthazar wanted to stay home, away from everything and everyone currently in this small house. He could see that everyone else wanted to do the same, but each had a purpose to fulfill. He had one as well and briefly remembered the words that fueled his purpose.

 
; “You are a disgrace to our family, Balthazar! You are a coward. Because of you, your brothers could have died. You risked everyone. You are not my son. After this, you will never be!”

  Balthazar had to go out and fight. He needed to show his father, his family, and his peers that he was not a coward. He was just as good a gargoyle as they were.

  He looked at everyone. Their energy was dwindling, their auras faint. They were trying their best not to look physically weak, yet they were failing in that endeavor. He strengthened his resolve and vowed to complete his mission. Not only for himself, but also for everyone he cared for.

  Caspar opened the door. The slight breeze made everyone’s heart light. The weather was cool. Balthazar saw Caspar’s fear mirrored within his eyes. He was afraid to go out and face the end. Either they would win or they would lose. There was a probability they’d be able to return alive. One, it seemed, he wasn’t quite ready to consider.

  It was then that Balthazar knew what he needed to do. He pushed past everyone, his wings fluttering as he moved. He flew through the door, a slight smile hovering over his lips. He out of the safe zone, intent of making things right somehow. His chin rose with determination as he turned around to face them.

  Slowly, one by one, everyone exited the safe house.

  ***

  Lucifer had broken two of the seals. It was easy for him to do so. He had known everything he needed to know of Famine and Pestilence and knew where their belongings were kept. Famine had a long bracelet, which she loved dearly. He’d broken that by entering her realm. As for Pestilence, he had a small pendant, which he used to wear. He broke that, too.

  The only problem was that the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse could only be bound if all of the Four Seals are broken. For now, Lucifer had broken only two. Two were left, those belonging to War and Death.

  He sat in his office, chewing upon the tip of his pen, thoughtfully gazing at the scenery outside as he stared through the window when the door to his office opened. A man wearing a red leather suit who had a blue crystallized bald head walked in full of anger. Behind him, soldiers wearing burnished armour poured into the room. They were holding spears and arrows strung across their bows.

  “What are you trying to do, you demon?” the figure inquired.

  Lucifer smiled. “Please, calm down, War. I thought I had to make the effort to see you, but you made it easy by coming to me.”

  “We helped in raising you, but now you are damning us!” War retorted. “How can you betray us?”

  “The way you betrayed me, War?” Lucifer pushed himself to his feet, his smile broadening. “I was happy that you helped me come here, but now, after finding out that you were using me for your own personal benefits, I feel betrayed. After I finish Earth, you would have taken me down and I can’t risk that.”

  “Who told you that?”

  “Who would it be?” Lucifer said. “Your brother, Death,” “Death...? Oh, yes.” War seemed certain. “He was lying.”

  “Even if he was lying, I don’t think I can leave loose ends. I am not binding you because I want to save myself. I am binding you because you will help me in bringing about the Apocalypse on Earth and then I can make Earth a better place.” Lucifer strode toward War. “You can’t fight me here, War. Your powers are weak and you are in my domain.” He took War’s hand and in a single motion, he pulled off the ring he wore with swift ease. “It’s over!”

  He clenched his fist and crushed the ring within the palm of his hand. When he opened his fingers, there was only dust left behind. Lucifer grinned, his eyes shining with delight.

  “Only one is left,” Lucifer said.

  War ordered the two soldiers to attack Lucifer. As they pounced at him, Lucifer waved one of his hands and pulled the soldiers apart in mid-air, promptly turning them into ashes and smoke.

  Lucifer moved back toward his seat and calmly replied, “You may leave. Your assistance is not needed anymore here.”

  War shook with fear. He had never been afraid before. He was one of the Four Horsemen who were rigid and strong. He was stubborn for his victory. Yet now he knew there was no other way to save himself unless Lucifer took Death’s Seal and destroyed it. The question was, what and where was Death’s seal?

  “Do you know what Death’s seal is?” War asked. “I don’t, but I have a prophet that does.”

  “Death changes his Seal according to times, unlike us. He is clever. You will never be able to find it in time.”

  Lucifer clapped his hands together and bestowed War with a cunning smile. “I have all the time in the world.”

  Two demons approached War from behind and grabbed his arms. As they dragged him back, War shouted, “You have done wrong! You have done wrong!”

  War’s voice faded as Lucifer stood near the glass window and looked outside with pure delight. He was winning and he was happy about it. No one could do him any harm now. Three seals were broken. The fourth had yet to be found, but there wasn’t any hurry for that. He was determined to take his time with things.

  The scenery that spread out before him looked massive with skyscrapers and building touching the skies and standing rigidly in the background. His eyes widened as he caught sight of something unexpected. He refused to believe what he was seeing.

  The view started to change as if it was a reflection on water. The scenery was slightly distorted as it dissolved and changed before his very eyes. The new terrain forming before him was familiar to him. It was all too familiar as he noticed the red sky, the blue grass, the red dotted graves, and the big cathedral. His corporation was now in the Land of Souls.

  There were no human employees working today within the corporation, except for the demons that guarded every floor. Thus, there was no worry about having humans panicking around. Yet he knew this was unusual. How had the building ended end up here?

  “Morningstar!” someone yelled from behind him.

  Leviathan appeared, numerous bloody cuts and bruises scoring his body. “What happened to you?” Lucifer asked. He was not worried about

  Leviathan’s being there. Although, he knew he was not able to properly handle what was going on around him. “What the hell is happening?”

  “Somehow, with great difficulty, we’ve been transported to the Land of Souls. All of the Nephilims are waiting for us. They have entered the realm and we are trying to hold them back, but it’s nearly impossible. They are too many and we were not prepared for such an attack. We have to go now or else . . .”

  Leviathan gasped with surprise as an arrow pierced his heart. Black blood poured from the wound. He moaned aloud as he fell to his knees and crashed to the

  ground. Lucifer’s eyes widened with surprise. Caspar Socrates stood behind Leviathan’s body.

  ***

  Caspar kept Hope by his side as Siphon hurried away to find Vivian with Harvard in tow. Harvard had changed into his alter ego, Eros, and was at the ready to protect the fallen angel to the best of his ability. Fib, Balthazar, and Ivy were fighting several demons alongside Cassius and several other Nephilims. They were clearing floor after floor methodically.

  Caspar stood in the open doorway clutching an empty bow within his hand. He tossed it aside and quickly morphed his cane into a shotel. Hope hovered nearby, fidgeting nervously as she had no idea as to what she needed to do.

  “I told you, Lucifer,” Caspar said as he walked forward with the tip of the shotel dragging across the ground. “I told you that I would be the one to cherish the look of shock upon your face.” He paused and smiled. “I see that look right now upon your face.”

  Lucifer was speechless. He unable to form a coherent thought as he stared dumbfounded at his newest nemesis. “How did you do it?”

  “Death, Fib, and I created a portal large enough for this entire building to come through. I told him to inform the Nephilims to be ready.” He paused. “It’s over, Lucifer. Everything is over,” Caspar proclaimed. “You have lost.” He turned toward the befuddled Hope. “Do i
t!”

  “I don’t know how,” Hope whispered.

  “Ask Solomon. He was the one who originally did,” Caspar instructed.

  Hope nodded. Lucifer’s hand shot forward clutching a sword made out of pure electricity. The long sword buzzed and crackled with bursts of lightning. He ran toward Caspar, who immediately deflected the blow. The force of Lucifer’s attack caused him to fall down.

  Lucifer flapped the edges of his coat and stared at Hope. “You are Solomon’s descendant. You think you can help him? Well, guess what? I am going to kill you before you even . . .”

  Caspar pulled himself to his feet lunged at his opponent and tried to pierce him with his shotel, but was unsuccessful in doing so. Lucifer grabbed his shirt and pushed him back with such force that he crashed into the wall behind him.

  Hope looked on, unsure of what to do. She dropped her bag down and moved to the other side of the room. A tyrannical smile crossed Lucifer’s lips as he attacked Caspar who was blocking and deflecting each blow he received. She closed her eyes and concentrated on communication with Solomon.

  Come on, Solomon. Come on. Tell me. Tell me. How should I do it?

  She nervously rubbed the ring again and again to see if doing so would work, but nothing happened. She didn’t feel anything, neither did she see anything.

  Lucifer stumbled back against the wall as Caspar delivered a clean kick against his stomach. He came to his feet and charged angrily at his adversary. Caspar fought back with fervor, all the while, winking and smiling. Bloody bruises and wounds were now appearing across his body, but knowing he had an Achilles’ heel kept him from feeling apprehensive.