APOCALYCIOUS: Satire of the Dead

by K Helms

  Mia rose to her feet and retrieved her fallen sword. She stared down at the now screaming skull; her hair flowed in long dark rivers as a sudden wind blew it around her in cascading waves. She raised the sword high above her head as bolts of lightning streaked and exploded around the sides of the hill. As the lightning flashed the thunder roared its rumbling bellows. Mia had never witnessed a storm as violent as this, but she thought that if Mick had been right, then this was the voice of God declaring His approval.

  She felt the ozone scorching the air and sensed the heat arc through her sword as lightning danced toward her blade.

  “This is for Mickey,” Mia said coldly, but her words were drowned by the din of the tempest as the gate opened and a silver disk boomed through into the storm above her.

  Chapter 74 - Basil Unleashes the Wrath Bone

  As the ship entered the gate in Bermuda lightning scored the blackened sky over the Caribbean. Basil felt his paws enlarging and pressing against the cuffs that allowed him to control the ship. His body grew into that of a larger Anubis, more powerfully built and one that resembled that of a great lynx. His color was still black and still adorned with the golden earring in the point of his left ear. His paws too large for the cuffs, Basil relinquished control before he could not release himself and caused the ship to crash into the bog. The mechanism that negated the g force upon acceleration and deceleration kept Basil from feeling the concussion. He sprinted for the ramp that opened as he stepped near the duffle bag. He clamped his jaws on the looped handles and ran outside as the ship sank slowly into the bog.

  Regeliel had seen that the moon was full at its apex and watched as Mia raised the sword over her head. The rush of the ship overhead, or more accurately, the storm that raged upon its arrival, bowled her forward as the Bludglutton tumbled down the hill out of her reach. Regeliel caught her by the arm as she very nearly fell after him into the awaiting division of the dead on that side of the hill.

  “Where is he?” Mia screamed above the thunder that still rolled over head.

  “He is gone, M’Lady. The Gemini said to be at the Cairn at this time,” he said, raising his visor. She tried to jerk her arm from his grip, but though he held her gently there was no release from fingers like iron.

  Her obsidian eyes burned into him. “Let me go,” she hissed

  “Nay, M’Lady. I cannot do that.”

  Regeliel glanced to where the ship had embedded itself in the mud and saw a large canine form emerge, and though he didn’t know what it foretold, he recalled the Gemini’s words and knew the appearance of the Anubis had to be of significance. He wished that he could have been gentle, but there was no time for that; he grabbed Mia’s other arm as she struggled in vain to free herself. She kicked at him, but her feet only clanged against the steel of his armor.

  “Forgive me, M’Lady,” Regeliel said and carried her to the cairn, and leaning into it, he dropped her into the center. She immediately began to climb the stone walls. Placing her feet on opposite sides and bracing her body by placing palms against opposite walls she slowly clamored up the wishing well, for that was what it was to Regeliel. He had nothing, but wishes for her safety, wishes that she would heal from the wounds that he knew he had been at least partly at fault. He wished that one day she would again speak kind words of him and smile when she remembered the Nephilim. Most of all he wished that he had not brought this curse upon them, those he called his friends.

  “Hey! You wanna help me out over here?” yelled Bodie as he hacked the legs from another of the dead. Regeliel ran to him, slamming his visor down.

  Basil threw his head to the side using all the strength in his neck and shoulders and ripped the bag open with his dagger-like teeth.

  The Bludglutton staggered to his feet and grasped the ends of the pins. He screamed as he ripped them from the hinge of his jaws. He had tried to make it easy for the woman. He had tried to explain to her that he must do these things to save his mother, but she refused to listen. He threw the pins to the mud and stormed back toward the hill. This time he would not use the trickery of mist to aid him. Now he would use the gifts that his heart had given him. Hatred for the woman filled his withered heart. From behind him he heard a deep growl of exertion as Basil revealed the other twelve skulls but he had no time for his mind to register any danger.

  The appearance of the twelve crystal skulls, coupled with the one upon the Bludglutton’s shoulders was the first time that all thirteen skulls had ever existed on the same plane. It was a short reunion as in unison the skulls exploded in an ear-splitting blast that sent shards of razor sharp crystal and particles of pulverized dust in every direction. Upon their detonation the army of the dead burst into flames, they burned in blue hot intensity that charred the corpses black where they stood. Their eyes melted from their sockets and ran down over their cheeks that dripped from bones. Tongues curled in their gaping mouths, twisting then shriveling and turning to ash between their teeth. The stench of burning flesh and hair seemed to purify the stink of rot and death with an underlying scent of ozone.

  As Mia threw her arms over the top of the stone cairn she looked up and saw that the storm was directly above her head. The clouds churned and circled like a maelstrom. Her hair whipped around her and she felt a warm sensation as broken fingers of lightning flashed around her and over her.

  From the top of the hill, Regeliel and Bodie watched as the dead succumbed to their infernos. Bright flares of white hot flame burst forth from their heads and incinerated them where they stood. They turned to see Mia being buffeted by wind and white fire from heaven. A bright flash of lightning temporarily blinded them and as their vision slowly returned they saw that Mia was gone.

  Basil locked his eye upon the one that stared at him with his own lost eye. The Lich tried to run, but his decomposition had advanced far too much for that. Basil charged forward, tackling Baliel, of Ba'al with paws as large as human hands and claws as long as human fingers. The Lich Baliel, of Ba'al cried for Lucifer, but no help came from the demon. The Anubis tore the crown from the Lich’s brow and revealed the one final piece of living flesh. The word ‘EMET’ had been carved into that flesh and thick pink scars formed the lines of letters. The Anubis sank its teeth into the king’s face and ripped the skin and scalp from skull and face and the rotting meat beneath. Basil tore at the muscle and tendons of Baliel, of Ba'al’s neck, but the only movement of the Lich’s body came from the violence that Basil inflicted upon it.

  Basil, the Anubis staggered from atop the corpse and stumbled to a patch of dry grass. His legs gave out and he fell into the blades of wet grass that reached for him with welcome softness, smoothing his fur like the hands of an old friend. He closed his eye contentedly as long awaited sleep leeched away the last of his strength and his breathing became shallow and weak. It would be a good nap; naps were always best after the hunt. His heart slowed… slowed…and then beat no more.

  Regeliel stood beside his dwarven comrade and clapped a hand on Bodie’s shoulder, nearly knocking him over. “My friend, glory is yours and the women will swoon at your name!” the knight said.

  Bodie held his arm out to the Nephilim knight. “I got bit, you stupid jack ass! What woman is gonna want a four foot tall, dead guy that wants to eat them?”

  The knight knelt beside the dwarf and Daniel, who now appeared to be human again, rushed to his friends.

  “I’d think quite a few women would like that scenario,” quipped Daniel.

  “The dead have been destroyed here in the plane of the Ark and with it that infection is dead as well,” Regeliel reassured him.

  Bodie squinted up at Regeliel. “You’d better not be bullshitting me.” He glanced at Daniel then looked back to the knight and pointed his thumb at Daniel. “How come I’m still a damn midget and he’s back to normal?” He turned back to Daniel. “And why aren’t you wearin’ any freakin’ pants?”

  Daniel looked embarrassed as Regeliel handed him a cloak. “He is now true Lycan and c
an only take the Lupine form when the moon is full.”

  “The moon is full right now you idiot,” Bodie said sourly.

  The Nephilim smiled and shrugged “Idiot may be a bit harsh, my friend; I meant that he can now change at will.” He held his hand out to Bodie who looked at it for a second then accepted it as Regeliel helped him to his feet.

  “The chicks had better be damned hot.”

  “Of that I am quite sure,” Regeliel said.

  Part Three

  Aftermath of the Apocalypse

  Chapter 75 - Deceiver

  Isle of Hate,

  Plane of the Ark

  Lucifer walked through the bog, every step through the gore ridden murk splashing the mud, but never once staining his pure white robe. He held a spear in one hand and used it as if it were a walking staff. His face was young and smooth and he resembled a large adolescent. He surveyed the fallen army of the dead who lay in charred mounds of blackened bones where they had fallen among the rusting hulks of crashed aircraft and overturned vessels of the sea.

  His expression was placid as he led another man by the arm. The man he led was dressed in a robe of Widow's Web. The destruction of his army did nothing to churn emotion onto his unlined face. Lucifer stopped the young man as he came upon the corpse of the dead Lich, Baliel, of Ba'al. Lucifer glanced at the man standing beside him “Do you want to say hello to your father?” he asked with a wicked grin as he nudged the corpse with one of his feet.

  There was fear etched onto the boy’s expression as Lucifer reached to touch his face and with pointed nails he slid them into the corners of the boy’s right eye, plucking the eye from its socket before tossing it absently over his shoulder. Lucifer stooped and picked up the slimy, dull red orb beside Baliel, of Ba'al’s shredded remains. It had been floating in a small puddle staring up at them as if it had been expecting them. Lucifer straightened and placed it in the boy’s empty socket. The boy did not protest; he simply blinked several times as the viscous milky substance of decay swam beneath his eyelid. Lucifer handed the Leviathan tooth-headed spear to the boy.

  “Eye for an eye,” whispered Lucifer. He took the golden crown from the mud and placed it on the boy’s head as brackish water streaked down his face. He shifted it down over the boy’s brow and covered the word EMET that scarred its otherwise smooth surface.

  A glint caught Lucifer’s eye from the ground. It was a shard of glass, a remnant of one of the crystal skulls. It no longer vibrated with power but that didn’t matter, not anymore. The humans had used all their power to destroy his army and he would raise no more.

  Lucifer scanned the swampy ground and spied the body of Basil lying upon his side where he had fallen. He pointed to the animal, “Noth, drag that foul being with you, his remains may prove worth something.”

  Noth did as he was ordered and returned to Lucifer’s side.

  “Lucifer, Son of the morning,” Regeliel said as he arose from behind a large cairn, “I have been waiting for you.”

  Lucifer smiled at the giant. “Ah King Regeliel, son of Pelriel, stealth is not one of your strengths,” he said, but his friendly tone could not hide the bruised color that flashed on his face, distorting it in anger and disgust. Nephilim, were a race he considered even worse than human. The offspring of angels that loved Yah’s other creation. Lucifer hated that they were still held in higher esteem than him and the other fallen ones. Why hadn’t the fathers of the Nephilim been cast from heaven for their sins?

  “Where are your new friends, my King?” asked Lucifer in a mocking tone.

  “I have sent them back to Graylocke Castle; this is betwixt you and I.”

  Lucifer motioned to Noth who stood beside him, “I believe that you have forgotten one.”

  “Nay, demon; he is another of your drones, like his father before him. I see no life-spark in those eyes.” Regeliel nearly spit the last word out as he noticed the rancid Anubis’s eye in one of the man’s sockets.

  Regeliel raised his great sword before him, its point an inch away from Lucifer’s heart.

  “Will you use your uncle’s trumpet and call the Host of Heaven down upon me?” mocked the devil.

  “My uncle does not know me,” said the Nephilim.

  “Pity,” Lucifer said and touched the edge of the blade with his fingernails, sending sparks from it as he slid them back and forth upon the steel. He removed his hand, dismissing the threat and the blade wilted then writhed as it transformed into a serpent that struck angrily at the giant’s armored gauntlet. The giant released the bone hilt from his grasp and the serpent again became steel as it stuck its point in the mud at his feet. “A Moses parlor trick,” Lucifer explained contemptuously.

  “Shouldn’t you be roasting in hell, demon?” the giant asked, removing his helm.

  “Not yet. For now, I have to see if my servants are about their master’s business.”

  Regeliel surveyed the carnage, “I do not see any servants here, traitor; only the corpse of one Nephilim that walks beside you.”

  “Everyone is my servant,” Lucifer said and plucked a blade of grass from the earth studying it.

  “Not I,” argued the giant.

  “Oh, but I am afraid you are. You have been doing my bidding from the start.”

  “You lie!” screamed the giant, his bearded face red with righteous indignation.

  “Did you not bring the humans here?” asked the devil, still studying the blade of grass.

  “Aye and they helped to destroy your foul army.” He stretched his arm out and gestured around him “See how they lie in ruin? You have been defeated, demon.”

  Lucifer dropped the blade of grass and watched as it spiraled to the mud. He raised first his eyes then his face to the giant, a smile gracing its youth. Regeliel saw rows of pointed teeth flashing in the morning sun.

  “Imagine my sorrow at a field of dead humans. How my soul mourns for them,” The devil parodied sincerity that made the Nephilim recoil. “Regeliel, you may believe that you brought them here to destroy my army, but really, you brought them here to bring me the crystal skulls.”

  The knight laughed “And they lie in shards, as they sink into the mud. They are as powerless as the beetles that have only charred bones on which to feast tonight.”

  “I have no use for those trinkets.

  “Your deception is obvious, devil. If you hadn’t wanted them why would you have me bring them here?”

  “Not so obvious. With the skulls destroyed the gate to all worlds are open and with that the beast that once guarded it is now free to do what he was created for.”

  “Beast? I know of no such beast.”

  Lucifer smiled again “The beast that bears my mark.” He snatched the spear from the boy beside him and thrust it beneath the giants chin. Regeliel saw that etched on the giant tooth were three numbers. “No one can erase this mark.”

  Regeliel looked confused. “Yah will stop you even if we can’t!”

  “Fool! Who do you think allowed me to do this?” screeched the devil in instantaneous rage. “Humans or Nephilim, you all do my bidding whether you realize it or not. Thinking that you were doing the will of Yah didn’t stop you from assisting me! I didn’t have to so much as dirty my hands.”

  It was just this deception that Lucifer had grown to master. Lucifer’s face transformed again to a placid calm and was masked again with that blasphemous purity and innocence. “I wonder, Regeliel, what your Lady Mia would do for the promise of giving life to her husband again.”

  Regeliel tensed, but was unable to move. “You cannot control the dead anymore, devil!”

  Lucifer’s grin slowly widened exposing row upon row of perfectly white teeth, pointed and sharp. He nodded to Noth who stood beside him. “This suit of Nephilim skin has been dead for some time now and yet he serves me.”

  “He’s Nephilim, not a Son of David,” argued the Nephilim King.

  Lucifer laughed and opened his arms wide, in a facsimile of crucifixion. “Still, ther
e is the promise, the hope, the desire… and what path would Mia choose to obtain her heart’s desire; true or not? It’s really all about choices and less to do with me.” Lucifer’s eyes swam with an oily blackness that covered the entire orb of his eyes. “The Gate changes everyone whether they are aware of the changes or not, remember? You told them that when you crossed over. That was your choice, Regeliel. Can you live with the consequences of your choices?” Regeliel could not take his gaze from the fallen angel’s ink black stare that glinted like obsidian in the morning sunlight. “She was pregnant, did you know that Nephilim? I wonder what changes occurred within that womb.” His eyes became slits like serpents, sly like someone that knows a secret and wants you to know that they know.

  “Your time is short, Son of the morning, know that!” roared the giant.

  “Oh, I do…I do…” he bowed to Regeliel “I suppose I should get busy then, I should maybe check in on my little Mia, shouldn’t I, Your Highness? I believe she could use a shoulder to cry upon, with her in such a weakened state…her mind so fragile now…” he said with a voice that dripped with contempt and snapped his fingers. “How easily that mind can snap with just the right motivation. Should I use the guise of friend and crush her beneath the sorrow in her soul or should I assume the role of enemy and shatter her mind in unrelenting rage?”

  “She walks The Path, demon; I have no fears.”

  “I think your voice trembles, giant, for you know as well as I, that Yah’s Path and mine sometimes converge. I know… I know it gets confusing for those golems formed from dirt to understand.” Lucifer laughed in a musical, childlike titter that sounded like discordant bells chiming softly.

  Regeliel’s face burned bright red with rage. “If you do anything to her…”

  Lucifer cut him off and flew at the giant faster than the Nephilim could blink. His face was no longer that mask of innocent purity and light; instead the flesh seemed to melt away exposing a shiny blackness that matched his eyes. Snakes and worms squirmed in tangled, oily masses beneath the sloughing flesh of his face and he suddenly loomed over the giant. His fingernails extended into sharp points, as long as daggers. He held a nail at the giant’s throat and the nail pulsed, expanded as if it strained to pierce the flesh. “You will what? Destroy me?” the demon screamed in his face, and Regeliel was forced to inhale the stench of sulphuric breath and he began to choke, coughing uncontrollably. “I wonder who Mia will blame for Mickey’s death. With the Bludglutton and Baliel destroyed she will need someone to focus that hate upon. Who will she choose? Who will she hate?”