by J Moon
“Pick her up!” Legion commanded. Two grunts hurried to the floor from his left. Legion whirled to his right, “How could you let her escape. Imbeciles!” The rage came so quick out of him that he levitated the two grunts and smashed them into the wall.
Legion stroke his hair to calm the rising tide of anger. He peered down to his watch. “It’s time,” he murmured. Then he turned to another lurking grunt. “Gather them all and prepare the seal. The time has come for us to ascend!”
“Oh no. Shanice!” Pops cried as they dragged both him and her out of the cell.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Back at the Shepherd Base, Dr. Miracle raced back to Colonel Brown’s office. After comparing some of the lost texts found in the Shepherd Base to his own private collection, he came across another volume of Ars Goetia. Inside he found a way to deactivate the ascension key.
“We have to find Gabe and tell him.” Dr. Miracle proclaimed loudly, and out of breath.
Langston stood up, “Tell him what?”
Dr. Miracle began reading in an even, expository tone of voice, only stopping to explain a point when he skipped irrelevant passages. “The word was used to cast out the demons. If I’m not mistaken, the staff is a totem of God’s words. Angels cannot cast out demons but an anointed can… Nia.”
“We have to assume she will try.” Zora spoke up.
Langston folded his arms.“What if she never gets the chance to thanks to the Colonel blowing up the facility.”
Colonel Brown stood up. “Now just wait a minute.”
“Let me finish,” Dr. Miracle added. “It says only the prayers of a righteous man can calm the ascension key. They are going to do a ceremony that requires a living sacrifice, the blood of an innocent.”
Colonel Brown’s startled gaze roved the group. “We have to alert the archangel at once then. This might be our best option at defeating Legion.”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this,” Langston started. “But you have to take us back to the factory.”
Dr. Miracle shut the book. “Now wait one God forsaking minute. Mr. Hughes you can feel free to go with them like you are a soldier…. but I on the other hand would rather go home,” he said with his British accent becoming more thick in his fright.
Zora stood up. “Well go on home then. We don’t need you.” She took a dominant stance. “All I know is the archangel was there for me when I needed him, and I am going to return the favor.”
Josephine nodded, “Me too, honey!”
Zora turned to Colonel Brown. “Colonel seems like we’ll be headed to the old factory with you.”
Colonel Brown opened his mouth to tell them no but before he could utter a word, Betty screamed. With his attention jerked her way, he asked. “Betty what’s the matter?”
Betty gasped. “They’re coming!”
As he went to Betty’s side, Lieutenant Sanders ran through the door. “Colonel sir we have problems!”
“What is it Sanders?”
“The League is here! They must’ve know about our plans to stop them, and they've come to destroy us.”
Gunshots and screams sounded from around the corner as the bunker rumbled. Suddenly the barrage of shots came dangerously close, and the word annihilate echoed down the hall. Zora took no time rushing to the door and looked out to see a line of grey figures advancing down the corridor in tight military precision, and headed their way. Lt. Sanders pulled out his firearm and fired down the corridor.
“Dear God, get us the hell out of here.” Dr. Miracle shouted as the shooting grew closer.
“What are we going to do?” Josephine cried out.
“We have to leave,” Colonel Brown shouted. “Follow me!” Colonel Brown grabbed his pistol from under his desk, then just to the left where the gun was hidden, he pressed a button to unveil a secret escape.
In the right corner of his office, the bookshelf slid into the wall, revealing an exit way. “Come on. All of you follow me.” Colonel Brown commanded as he went to the exit way. One by one they all went through until Lt. Sanders was left. Colonel Brown looked over and Lt. Sanders was doing his best to hold ground, but the League grunts continued to shoot him backward into the office.
“Come on Sanders! That’s enough let’s get out of here.” Colonel Brown roared.
Lt. Sanders released another round before peering over his shoulder. “You go ahead Colonel. I’ll hold them off, sir.”
“Non-sense. Pull back soldier. That’s an order!”
Lt. Sanders looked over to respond, but with a sickening crack, three bullets of light ended his life. His body went limp as he dropped to the floor. Colonel Brown looked at Sanders as his body lay slumped across the threshold, and he felt his stomach twist into a wrenching knot. He liked Lt. Sanders, but he knew all too well how this would play out. Colonel Brown’s heart burned with righteous anger spawned by the loss of so many to the hands of monsters from hell.
Betty Tate came back and traced Colonel Brown’s gaze towards Lt. Sanders body. She looked up and saw League grunts step over him and take aim with their weapons. Betty grabbed Colonel Brown’s hand. “Come on!” she shouted.
With a heavy heart he took aim and shot at the grunts who was shooting his way. He took one look at Sanders and followed the others out of the hidden escape.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Major Rhodes hated killing. Which was odd because he was extremely good at it. He remembered the first time his father gave him a gun. He made him shoot his Rottweiler named Rocky that attacked his neighbor. Told him that a man had responsibilities, and Rocky was his. So he did what was necessary.
Ten years later after being forced into the military he encountered a demon. It came in the guise of a fellow soldier that was sent specifically to kill him. Unbeknownst to Major Rhodes he had become a paragon of good, and his deeds had earned him a spot on the Sons of Chaos’ hit list. With incredible skill he managed to kill the possessed man, and ever since then he has joined to fight alongside the Shepherds to rid the world of the demonic menace.
Two trucks filled with Shepherd soldiers pulled up to the outskirts of the Cola factory. Major Rhodes was the leader on this mission. He was a tall, well-built man in his late thirties wearing army fatigues.
After twenty-two sting attempts on demonic groups, he seemed to be the perfect man appointed for the position. The mission was simple, take out the demonic nest by blowing them sky high with a bomb. He was ordered to save any human casualties if possible but the main mission was to strike at the heart of the League, by taking out all of their soldiers.
The trucks were pulling up to the gated entrance of the abandoned factory when Major Rhodes spotted all the lights on behind the factory. “What the hell is going on over there?” He asked himself as he pulled out binoculars and examined closer.
Looking through the binoculars he could tell the League had been digging, looking for something powerful, and he concluded that it was most likely a weapon. Without looking over to the driver he said, “Hurry it up will you.”
A radio crackled inside the truck. “Mayday mayday the League has compromised Shepherd base.”
Major Rhodes grabbed his radio, pressed the button. “Repeat that!”
“The Shepherd facility is under attack!” The voice shouted on the other side of the radio.
Suddenly the driver pulled up to the gate with a half stop. “Damn,” Major Rhodes groaned. He turned around, “Okay boys we have to turn around. We have to go back to the bunker.” He looked over to the driver. “Turn it around will ya.”
“There is no time to turn back around,” Gabriel said as he leaned into the armored truck.
Major Rhodes jerked back in shock, and aimed his gun at the archangel’s skull. “Who the hell are you pal?”
“Gabriel.”
Major Rhodes raised an eyebrow as he kept his pistol sharp. “The archangel?”
“Yes sir.”
“Well I’ll be,” Major muttered as he dropped the gun an
d stepped out of the truck. “A real life archangel. I heard one of yours took out a bunch of our boys, but here you are. You look just like me.”
Gabe took a few steps back as Major Rhodes got out. Another army truck pulled up, and more Shepherd soldiers hopped out, wearing green uniforms, and metal helmets. The archangel looked them up and down, then he turned, “Are these your boys?”
Major Rhodes nodded confidently, “Yes.”
“Good cause I’m in charge of them now,” Gabe said in a matter of fact tone.
Major Rhodes began to rethink lowering his guard on the archangel, “Excuse me?”
“There’s no time to argue about this. You are dealing with a threat with superior fire power. Do you want to keep your men alive and save humanity, then you will follow my orders alone. Got that?”
A part of Major Rhodes wanted to shoot the archangel but the look in his eyes told him he could trust Gabe, so he nodded along.
Gabe wasted no time in taking control. “Tell me how did you boys plan on attacking the League.”
Major Rhodes walked to the back of the truck and Gabe followed along. “We got special grade bullets that can pierce their armor.”
“Show me,” Gabe demanded.
Major Rhodes got up, slammed the door behind him in a sharp thud, his gaze never wavering off the archangel. He opened the weapons locker. “Silver-edged bowie knives, silver-coated blessed rounds, and double-aught, shotgun mounted, silver crossbow stakes blessed by some of the priests back at the bunker.”
Gabe nodded. “I’m impressed.”
Major Rhodes picked up a large brown shotgun as he continued, “Shotguns loaded with Red Sea salt and silver buckshot.” Then Major Rhodes reached further back beyond the trunk presented and pulled out another case. This one was larger than the others. “Then of course we got this.”
Gabe’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. “It’s 1926. How did you guys get this?”
Major Rhodes smiled in pride, “Well sir the government believes in our mission, and they’ve given us their best. Some of this stuff won’t hit the streets for another ten years.”
“Try thirty,” Gabe corrected then he whirled around to the men and women who had got out the trucks and gathered. For a battle like this he needed something stronger than sweet Lucy, and his eagle eye pistol to aid him. The weapon in the bunker seemed to be just the thing. Still, a sliver of doubt sliced through the curtains of his mind, and caused a moment of hesitation. He was putting the lives of these people in his hand but he had no choice.
If he failed this mission more lives than these few would be at a stake. After all, they believed in the same mission he did. Gabe wrestled with it for a moment, and then stuffed it back into the darkest recesses of his mind.
Gabe cleared his throat as the group stood with rifles in hand. “All right, listen up,” the archangel said as the Shepherd squad snapped to attention. “My name is Gabe, I’m an archangel, and I’m running this ship. Our main mission is to get the girl, grab the staff, and get out of there. If you can take out the grunts, then so be it. I must warn you to not engage Legion. He is mine.”
“But sir—” Major Rhodes cut in. Gabe looked over and allowed him to speak. “We were sent to blow this place up and stop them from making more cyborgs. Priority number two to rescue any civilian hostages if we can.”
“Worry about the hostages once the girl and the staff are secured.” Gabe said in a tight voice.
Major Rhodes took a step forward. “Look here archangel we can help you, but we got to shut down this monster making factory.”
Gabe folded his arms.“All right what do you propose?”
“I will accompany you with a small team of seven.” Then Major Rhodes looked back to one of the trucks. “Conyers!” he called.
Another soldier jumped down from a Humvee. He stood around five nine with light brownish-red hair barbered into a classic Caesar. “Yes sir?” he asked.
Major Rhodes turned back to Gabriel. “Conyers will take another small team to plant the bomb and rescue any remaining civilians.”
The archangel was satisfied. “Deal.”
Major Rhodes pointed. “You all with me and the rest of you follow Conyers. Now let’s move out!”
The archangel marched towards The Ark and hopped in. “Let’s get a move on boys. We have little time.” As Gabe started the engine to The Ark, he thought to himself that seven soldiers wouldn’t be enough, but he had faith they would help him accomplish his mission at least.
Chapter Forty
In the small hours of the morning, near the end of a cold and muggy night, where the rain was replaced by a bone-chilling wind, Legion stood with his cyborg army around him standing stiff like statues. Outside in the center of the dig site, he had Nia surrounded by his Elite along with her father, as they stood in front of the seal of ascension. The seal was a massive golden crusted platform that was barely unearthed and surrounded by soil. Etched on the platform of the seal were carvings of man, the gates of Heaven, and one large hand representing the Creator.
Legion stood for a moment, gazing arrogantly around. When Nia stirred awake she found herself bound and held by an iron grip. Her lower back ached like someone had shoved their knee in it, while her forehead held a lightning sharp pain between her eyes, and her stomach groaned with hunger.
Naturally, she began to struggle herself free. With a defiant look towards Legion she said, “You are not going to win. Once the archangel rolls through, together we will kick your ass.”
The elite that held her squeezed her hand. Nia bit her lip, determined not to scream as the bones in her hand almost snapped like twigs in the death grip of the cyborg.
Legion ignored her, and spoke to his army in a looming voice. “Tonight we shall ascend and wipe out the angels who have terrorized us from above. Once we have wiped them out, and we have taken over SMITE, we will have the weapons, and means to wipe out the seven princes. Today will mark the dawn of a new era. A beginning of a new point in time. From now on there is no more angels and demons, or good and bad. Everything that dwells above as well as below will fear the League.” Legion turned to the left. “Now bring to me the lamb.”
Two grunts came out dragging a tall and frail young man on the ground. Nia leaned over to examine him. Once she saw the man’s face her jaw dropped and her heart began pounding as her blood froze ice cold.
It was Rahlo.
They were going to sacrifice Rahlo to activate the seal of ascension. Nia began bucking in the arms of the grunt. “No... no you can’t do that. You don’t want him,” Nia wailed in a panicked voice.
Legion laughed a low, cruel laugh.“ Do you know this one?” He cackled. “Good.”
Nia met the eyes of the demon, “Listen to me you don’t want him. He’s a hoodlum. He’s not a good guy.”
“Oh but I’m afraid he is. You can’t see it... but us demons can. I can smell the essence of his soul. This one is pure. His soul is white as snow. That makes him the perfect lamb.”
Burning tears streamed down Rahlo’s face as they knelt him over the ascension key. “Nia,” Rahlo called. “It’s okay.”
“Rahlo, I’m sorry. I’m so so sorry,” Nia said.
Owney Madden watched on. In his heart he knew that what he was witnessing was pure evil. Deep down he knew there was nothing that could save his soul.
Legion began speaking in Latin, his voice rolling like thunder. “Blood of the Lamb bless this seal, and lift us higher.”
Nia rocked back and forth, as Rahlo closed his eyes. He took one long aching breath, preparing for the worst, but before he could exhale the demon ran a blade across his neck. The power of Nia’s scream could be heard all over Harlem. It was a heart aching wail of sorrow. Dying a thousand deaths where she stood, she was helpless to cancel out the image of horror that was now burned into her head.
Slowly the blood covered every etch of the ascension key. It glowed a brilliant golden color as the blood spread. Sand and wind formed a turbine
of energy surrounding the seal, tossing loose dirt, and gravel in a stinging vortex around them.
Legion smiled. He was pleased. Without looking behind he commanded, “Bring the girl here.”
A grunt nudged Nia forward. She grudgingly took a step on top of the seal, her stomach in knots as she looked over Rahlo’s body. Sourness filled her throat as she stepped into his blood. Owney Madden handed over the staff to Nia. She looked at him long and hard.
“Take the staff!” Legion ordered.
She looked back at her father, then she reached, and grabbed the staff which was only still a partial stick. Again, an overwhelming sensation came over. She could feel the power and anointing of the relic flowing through her.
“This will be the day we conquer the Heavens, and no one else shall question the League.” Legion turned to her. “Now open the gates of Heaven.”
“How? I don’t know how to use it. You should’ve given me a trial run.”
“Command it,” Legion bellowed in a tight voice.
Nia looked down at the staff. “Abra Kadabra. Hocus Pocus. Open the floodgates of Heaven, and let it rain.” Still nothing happened. She looked back, “See, after all this you got the wrong girl. Let me and my father go.”
“Nia Carter will open the gates of Heaven or face annihilation!”
A rising tide of anger rose in Nia’s spirit. This was one of the moments she was liable to black out, and say anything. Both of her hands were firmly gripped on the staff. Without notice, she whirled and pointed the staff towards Legion. The League soldiers rose their weapons, and pointed them at her.
“How about I just send you and your pack of tin flying back to hell?” As the threat left her lips, the staff began to sprout and grow like a tree. It fell to the ground at a deadly length, and Nia adjusted her hands to it.