The Damascus Chronicles

by Dominic R. Daniels

  “Darius get in here now!” yelled Scarlet. Darius bolted through the door to help up his sister.

  “What happened this time?” asked Darius.

  “Marianna had another attack.”

  “She’ll be all right,” said Darius as he pulled out a small bottle of lucaliptiousberry juice. “Here, drink this, it will revive you,” said Darius as he poured the elixir into Marianna’s mouth.

  “These visions are getting too powerful for her. If she has any more it will weaken her until she dies,” said Darius.

  “That’s impossible, she’s an immortal,” said Scarlet.

  “No, he’s right, every time I use this curse it drains my strength,” replied Marianna.

  “What did you see Marianna?” asked Darius.

  “The dark force. I believe they have created a warrior unlike anything I have ever seen. I also saw beings around him,” said Marianna.

  “What exactly did you see?” asked Scarlet.

  “Shadow spirits, demons, and a man draped in purple silk who has the power to control them,” said Marianna.

  “What should we do?” asked Scarlet. “We must tell father immediately. He may know something about this warrior you speak of,” said Darius.

  The three of them went to speak with Julius in his chamber where he was kneeing in deep meditation, chanting psalms in Latin. Jewish oil lamps burned along the side of the room and a crucifix hung on the wall. “Vene Sanctus Spiritus,” chanted Julius.

  Scarlet knocked on the doors of her father’s chamber, “Come in, and bring in your sister and brother. What’s wrong?” asked Julius.

  “Father, I have seen the dark warrior. He is searching for the young fledgling and our cousin,” said Marianna.

  “Michael is heading into trouble, but I am confident he will handle this test. Do not help him. He must complete this task on his own if he is to be worthy of this Coven. After all, did you not each prove yourselves to be my bravest warriors besides being my children? It is the tradition of this Coven that has been held for seven centuries,” replied Julius.

  “The dark god has sent his warrior from Jinguko. The prophecy is finally being fulfilled,” said Marianna.

  “Do you think the fledgling could also be part of the prophecy?” asked Darius.

  “I have pondered this too. It is said that Heaven will send a young, fallen warrior to lead the victory against the legions of the Dark God and restore our people and himself,” said Scarlet.

  “We will not know until it is shown to us,” said Julius.

  “In the meantime, wait until Damascus and his companions deliver the weapons to us. We will tap their power source and make it our own,” said Darius.

  “While we are waiting, my son, gather our best men and you and Marianna must lead two teams with through the city to search for the Dark Society’s criminal affiliates. We must locate them and kill any enemy on sight,” said Julius.

  Darius beat his chest to salute his father and left the room with Marianna to fetch his men. Julius looked out his chamber window at the moon and spoke softly to his daughter Scarlet, who was still present. Julius then fell the ground in great pain.

  “Father!” screamed Scarlet in fear, running to his side to help him up.

  “I will be fine daughter,” said Julius, limping to get up.

  “Lie down father and rest yourself; let me see your wound,” said Scarlet. Scarlet turned her father on his side, seeing that the wound that he received from Desbode years ago was swollen, it had never healed. “Scarlet there is nothing you can do, I am dying,” said Julius.

  “There must be a way to heal you,” said Scarlet.

  “No, if it is my time to die, then I will die. When my time comes to leave this world, you and your brother and sister will serve the Coven as my replacement. There are many of our kind needing our help. If we do not help them, they will turn to the Dark One. Promise me you will take care of each other,” said Julius.

  “But father,” protested Scarlet.

  “Promise me!” said Julius as he felt pain pierce his side.

  “I promise.”

  “I love you all.”

  “Please father, sleep and rest.”

  “Play for me please.” Julius turned over. Scarlet went into her room and brought out her harp to play into the night. Julius drank a cup of blood that was filled for him by a servant and he regained some of his strength.

  Around the alleys of the dark and dismal parts of the city, where drug dealers and street crime was rampant, Marianna and Darius were searching with their teams for the whereabouts of the mafia. Michael and his crew searched the other side of town for the biological weapons.

  Both units found each other in the red light district looking frustrated and flustered.

  “What are you doing here?” said Serena. Marianna did not look surprised. “Looking for spies and you,” replied Marianna.

  “We’re looking for those weapons you guys wanted found,” said Michael.

  “This is just too weird,” said Rocko to all the madness.

  “Get used to it; welcome to the beyond,” said Danny.

  Suddenly, the prey they had been hunting came at them from the dark rooftops and hidden corners. They were dark shadow beings with red eyes and decayed flesh that was gray and thick. They stunk like rotten ash and looked like dead warriors, dressed in robes of tattered silk. They had taken the form of supernatural assassins. Among them was Jubel, emerging from a mist of darkness and fog. Alazar Desbode also appeared next to Jubel.

  “It’s him!” said Danny.

  Jubel removed his hood to reveal his new power. His appearance was different than it had been during their first encounter. Jubel’s skin was chalk white, his eyes were red and his face was covered in strange tattoo markings. His teeth were sharp fangs and his hands had become monstrous claws. He had become a devil from hell.

  “The Dark Warrior, it’s him,” breathed Marianna. A silence crept over all, but it lasted for less than a second. Marianna unsheathed her sword in anticipation and Darius pulled the string back on his bow.

  “Jubel, kill them!” ordered Alazar Desbode. “Yes sire,” responded Jubel as he gave the signal. A wanton flood of violence erupted as the shadow assassins fought against the vampires and their allies. Guns were useless against these beings; the zombies could not be killed. Jubel stood on the rooftop controlling the decayed warrior beings with his hands, as if he were a puppet master with an invisible line to each of these strange creatures. Alazar Desbode had conjured forth from the ground small portals that burned as rings of blinding white light and hot fire, calling for the demonic and supernatural beasts that served him.

  “Children of the elder gods of darkness, come forth from the abyss, your master awaits,” chanted Alazar Desbode in a strange language that was not human. Out of the hellish fire came forth three creatures of abomination, death, and discord. A being emerged from the ground with the wings of a giant eagle, the skin of a serpent, the torso and legs of a man, massive black claws that looked cretaceous, and the head of salamander. This creature was named Gerwraith.

  Another creature rose from the fire, a bird-like beast with the head and neck of a crane and sharp rows of fangs that were jagged as blades. Its torso and arms were that of a white tiger, its wings and feathers were those of a black swan, and its legs and feet were those of a large peacock. It was called Iolcus. These first two beings were ugly and bestial.

  Finally, a third creature came forth, but unlike the first two, this one was seductive and beautiful. It had a woman’s shape and wore a pearl tunic. She had sultry black hair, eyes that were red as blood, the giant wings of a bat, white skin, and claw hands. Though she was beautiful and fair, she had the voice of a siren that was both seductive and deadly. She was the favorite of Alazar Desbode’s warriors as well as his lover; her name was Tulina.

  “Tulina, Icolcus, Gerwraith attack!” commanded Alazar Desbode. These three creatures unleashed unholy screams that sounded like a mi
llion souls of the dead trapped inside these evil creatures.

  The creatures and the shadow puppets circled in twists and wisps of smoke, attacking their enemies. Darius and Marianna leaped high in the air, vaulting back and forth from the corners of the nearby walls of the buildings, slashing the reanimated corpses to pulp. Darius fired his bow and split open the skulls of the corpses, though nothing but ash and smoke poured out of the putrid creatures.

  Michael engaged in hand-to-hand combat on the ground, smashing in the corpse’s heads and dismembering his adversaries. Rocko and Danny fought the creature beasts while Serena fought against Tulina. In the madness Jubel jumped down from the building in front of Michael and drew his sword to attack.

  “Now it ends!” Jubel declared as he drew the first strike. Michael back flipped to avoid Jubel’s attack and fired back with his Mini Uzi, but the bullets just bounced off the force field of energy that Jubel had summoned up to protect himself. Jubel attacked Michael again by jumping in the air and zipping back and forth. One of the corpse beings below pulled out a strange energy pistol, a bio weapon, and fired. Michael swept past and dodged the shot, knocking down the creature and grabbing the weapon, but in the next instant Michael was struck down by Jubel’s sword, which slashed his chest, wounding Michael deeply. His blood spilled and Michael fell weakly to the ground. Jubel stood over him ready to cut off his head.

  “Hey buddy, heads up!” yelled Serena, who grabbed the gun that Michael had dropped and fired at Jubel. The energy blast sent Jubel through a brick wall.

  Serena then teleported Michael and the others to a safe haven, retreating from the enemy. The escapees arrived in the catacombs beneath Julius’ mansion. They all fell to the ground, each drained of strength from the battle. Darius and Marianna were the only ones who had suffered no injuries because as ancients they were strong and could regenerate quickly. Serena was injured from her fight with Tulina. Michael was in bad shape; the wound he had received from Jubel’s blade was barely healing. He bled profusely on the floor. Darius picked up Michael, while Rocko and Danny helped up Serena.

  “Yeah I’m fine thanks!” said Danny as rubbed his head from the blow he had taken.

  “Terrific, just terrific!” said Rocko sarcastically.

  “Come one you guys, it wasn’t that bad,” said Serena.

  “Oh shut up!” everyone said in unison.

  “Oh boy,” said Rocko breathing heavy.

  “Come into the main hall, we all need to talk,” suggested Darius. They all limped upstairs. There was a large Victorian style sitting room off the main hall, with furniture and a large black marble fireplace. A warm fire was burning. The room was filled with assorted gothic gargoyle statues and sconces that had dragons sitting on giant demon claws. The place was decorated in rich purples, reds, and dark blues.

  “Come in and rest,” said Julius as he poked at the burning wood with a steel poker. They all plopped on the sofa, exhausted and beaten.

  “Alazar Desbode beat us, the Dark Force and his minions were just too much. I hope you’re happy. Though we did get the bio gun,” panted Michael.

  “Have a drink, sit, and tell me what happened,” said Julius as he took out a bottle of red wine and poured glasses for everyone. He handed the glasses of wine for all to drink. Michael and Serena fed from a goblet that had an elixir given to him by Julius, and they were then healed.

  After finishing the goblet Michael handed Julius the weapon to inspect, “Well done, Michael. You have passed the second trial. This bio weapon can be duplicated in our own weapons lab and we can harness its energy into new defense systems,” said Julius proudly, handing the rifle to a servant who then left the room, closing the doors.

  “No more trials please; we have bigger worries. The creep in the black robe called some strange beast-like creatures up out of fire,” said Michael.

  “Strange creatures?” questioned Julius.

  “They were the most ugly son’s a bitches I have ever seen. He called them Tulina, Icolcus, and Gerwraith,” said Danny.

  Disturbed, Julius dropped the bottle he held, shattering the glass on the floor. The telephone rang. Scarlet answer it. “Hello, yes. Father, it’s for you.” She handed her father the telephone.

  “Yes, who is this? Takai? Why yes of course, I understand. Yes, immediately,” said Julius seriously as he hung up the phone, turning around with a worried look on his old decrepit face.

  “The time has come. All of you must come with me; the prophecy is being fulfilled,” said Julius. They headed down the stairs into the cellar, where in the catacombs there was a shimmering pool of water that reflected the torches burning on the walls.

  “What is this place?” asked Danny.

  “Where the records of the Great Testament have been kept safe. The keepers have documented, over the centuries, the events of this war, including the scroll that speaks of the prophecy of its end. The end was foretold in a series of visions to an unknown monk who served the early church in Athens, after being visited by the Angel Gabriel who said “I have come from Jesus the Christ. Write down all that I tell you to prepare for a dark age that will come upon the earth. All of mankind will be persecuted. Now prepare.” The writings were kept secret and the scrolls were locked away, hidden in an old cemetery. Pagans who hated the Church burned down many cathedrals at the time.

  After being discovered by a band of thieves, the scrolls were sold to a notary. Then the Church bought them and the Pope transferred the keeping of the scrolls to the cardinals. From there, the scrolls were entrusted to me,” Julius finished. “And here are the scrolls encased in glass, well preserved,” said Marianna.

  “You mean, the story of you serving as a general for the church is true?” asked Michael.

  “Where did you hear this?” asked Julius.

  “Dominus,” said Michael.

  “ I see,” said Julius.

  “But if this prophecy is true, why didn’t the Church in Rome aid you?” said Michael.

  “Fear can bring great confusion to men who are good. It was that fear and hatred that turned those we trusted against my legion and what I had become. The Sons of Judah believed I was cursed by God, so I was seen as a heretic and was driven out with my men by a private hired army, only to be captured by the Dark Society’s legions,” said Julius.

  “What prophecy?” Michael pressed.

  “The prophecy tells that through the ages a war between good and evil would be fought over the future of the world until heaven sends a fallen warrior to be redeemed and help defeat the Dark Society on earth. That is one aspect of the prophecy, but there is a second potential destiny. It is said that evil legions of men will seek a source of power, a book that if acquired will be used to resurrect the creatures of the damned to conquer the world of the living. The three creatures you spoke of are part of the prophecy also.”

  “I think you’re hiding something else,” said Michael as he saw on the scroll a woodcut of Julius and his men slaughtering people: men, women, and children, along with a man with red hair and green eyes dressed in red and silver armor that bore a strange seal.

  “So you have figured it out then,” said Julius noticing Michael’s perception.

  “Figured out what?” asked Darius.

  “Your family is cursed because of what your father did while he was in Rome’s service,” said Michael carefully, looking closely at the mural on the wall. They had not recognized the figure in the picture until now. They all saw the true blood thirst of their lord, he who had played the innocent saint.

  “Father you knew about this, and you never told us.” Scarlet looked at her father with big sad eyes.

  “Orders were orders. I was charged to wipe out the heathen influence at the Pope’s command. If I hadn’t, they would have brought destruction to everything we had accomplished in Rome. I had to do what was necessary to protect his Imminence from potential assassination,” said Julius looking fierce, his eyes burning in anger.

  “More like followi
ng your political loyalty. Now I understand the game you played; you killed a band of innocent people and now the big man upstairs is making you pay,” said Michael.

  “So that’s your Great Test. You lied to us, Father!” Darius was enraged.

  “Why should we listen to you anymore?” said Serena.

  “Redemption can set you free if you seek it, this is true even for our kind. I want us all to be restored,” said Julius.

  “But that is what you want! Not me!” Darius was furious.

  “Brother you shouldn’t!” interjected Scarlet.

  “Shut up Scarlet!” said Darius abruptly.

  “He’s right,” said Serena.

  Julius frowned in disgust at his eldest son and smacking Darius across the face. “Don’t question my power Darius! If I could kill those pathetic humans – ” Pointing his finger at the mural, he grabbed his son by the collar and lifted him off the ground. “I won’t hesitate to kill you!” Julius threw Darius to the ground.

  Darius sprang up with his eyes burning, then breathed in his anger and brushed himself off. “Our time has come father; vampires will eventually rule this world. You’re a fool to believe becoming human again will make up for our family’s past,” Darius spat.

  Julius was ready to draw his sword against his son’s impertinence but Serena came between them, preventing the attack.

  “Forget the past and focus on the present. What about the creatures? If we don’t stop them there may not be a world left at all,” said Danny.

  “What are they?” asked Serena.

  “The Shirakai Guardians. Each is a key to unlock the power of a source of darkness, a book called The Yomi Tengu, which is translated as, “The Book of Darkness,” said Marko who had entered the room and overheard the conversation.

  “What is this book, and what exactly are these guardians?” asked Danny.

  “The Shirakai are a demonic race and dark spiritual beings, descendents of the tribes of Babalnite elders; the old ones, elder gods that were created by the legendary dark god Sagamu, the Japanese god of Jinguko, otherwise known as hell,” said Julius.