CounterPoint

by Daniel Rafferty

  “You clearly missed something,” said David obviously, holding his chin up with his clenched hand.

  Ariel looked at him, stone-faced, and replied tersely, “Clearly. The problem with you humans is that you think that if there is a Heaven then why doesn’t it just come and stop everything ‘bad’ happening to the world. Heaven is not like that. Our numbers are very limited. After the Great Flood, we discovered evil still existed in the form of Lilith. We tried for hundreds of years to find Lilith and until now we had still not. She would certainly appear in incidents all over the planet, but it would take an extremely powerful angel to defeat her. She is after all Lucifer’s second in command. Throughout the history of this world Lilith has contaminated the minds of countless millions. Humans, unlike angels, are not divine beings. You are open to evil and have slaughtered each other throughout the whole of your history. Despite our best efforts, you continue to war with each other.”

  “You talk about us not being divine, prone to killing each other with impunity. The Second World War was, in your own words, ‘child’s play’ in comparison to the War in Heaven which killed all but two humans. And you are the divine beings. I think you need to look closer to home before passing judgement on us,” snapped David, trying to keep his calm.

  Ariel’s expression froze. No emotions, no feelings, nothing. He really was an angel.

  Deciding to press on, David wanted to know more about his own family and the problems now facing the planet. “Can you tell me about my family? Why are we different?”

  “There are theories, the primary one being…” Ariel tailored off, trying to word his next statement. “We suspect you are different because of a mistake that should have been corrected in the beginning. During the War in Heaven, when the fighting descended to Earth some of my fallen brothers and sisters mated with humans. This caused an unforeseeable and unforgivable consequence which transferred some of their divinity to your family blood line and others. Allowing you to exercise certain powers and foresee certain events is a direct violation of every law of God. There were many more like you in the past, but they have either been eradicated by demons, or tortured and killed. When we discovered what had happened the biggest hunt Heaven had ever ordered commenced. Obviously many did not go quietly. Almost every war in human history has been the result of either Heaven or Hell trying to eradicate all of you. I personally don’t believe this theory; you possess power far in excess of anything we have come to expect. Your grandmother was able to destroy a creature which an archangel would have found challenging.”

  David turned his gaze to the window, wondering what kind of world he would see after this was over. Would the Earth truly be a desolate war zone, or would they succeed? What he had just heard had confounded him and probably ended any chance of hope he thought they had. Still gazing, he rhetorically asked, “I keep saying it but I thought angels were merciful, angelic beings from God.”

  “That’s the greatest misconception about us. As I’ve told you before we’re soldiers, warriors of Heaven. We are here to fulfil God’s instructions. Anyone or anything that gets in the way of our purpose is destroyed. At least, that’s what we are meant to do,” replied Ariel looking down. He felt deeply ashamed that any of his colleagues could ever go against God.

  “An apocalypse,” said David, finally naming the white elephant in the room before returning his gaze to the window.

  “If a war of this magnitude is allowed, then this planet is doomed. We need to be fully prepared for the coming onslaught. If we are not then we will definitely perish. The True Cross will provide us with what is called ‘Divine Right’. It will give us a fighting chance against Michael. When in the possession of someone, they are granted divine right to which they can then injure an archangel.”

  “Only allow us to injure them?”

  “David, the only thing that can kill an archangel is another archangel. But the True Cross can allow you to decapitate someone. I suspect Pravuil’s plan is to wound Michael even further, to an extent he will have to cave in and decide upon a different route for the path of humanity.”

  “Can Michael be defeated?”

  “He was wounded during the war. Lucifer struck him.”

  “Badly?”

  “It happened many years ago during the fight with Lucifer. As they fought on the fields of Earth for what seemed like an eternity, Michael was winning. We knew he would. God created Michael to be his ultimate General and to enforce his word wherever he was sent. In the final moments of the battle though, as we all looked on, Lucifer impaled Michael with his own angelic staff. Michael was wounded but was still able to beat the weakened Lucifer down to Hell. The problem is, if Lucifer now returns he will be at full strength while Michael is still recovering.”

  “Then we know what we have to do,” accepted David.

  “We need to obtain the True Cross”

  “What about Jesus? Can’t he help? Bring him back?”

  “That man just complicates issues whenever he is brought up,” replied Ariel instantly, rolling his eyes. Clearly a sensitive subject that David didn’t press further on. “Moving on, only one angel was allowed to enter the Temple of the Holy Sechure in Jerusalem at any one time. It was believed that as it was considered the holiest site on Earth, an angel must enter alone to inspect and care-take its vital artefacts.

  “When the True Cross was buried after the crucifixion, Heaven removed it to the vaults. However, every time they did it appeared back on Earth. No one could explain it and still can’t. The True Cross would vanish every time it was brought to Heaven. It was found years later by hunters and scavengers on Earth wanting a piece of legend. Hence how hundreds of churches across the world claim to have a piece of the ‘True Cross’. Explaining to David this was incorrect, Ariel pressed on highlighting that the Cross itself was never as big as depicted in scriptures and media. It was quite small, and the only surviving piece was buried deep under the temple in Jerusalem. For hundreds of years, devout caretakers assigned by the angelic hierarchy had looked after it. They needed this piece of the True Cross because it was one of the most powerful weapons in existence. A piece of genuine divinity.

  David was shocked by this, and Ariel had to remind him again to stop thinking of angels in the normal sense.

  Angels did have some inherent powers but they also needed weapons. To leverage something like Michael would require an object of pure divinity and unadulterated goodness – something that embodied the best aspects of God’s creations: self-sacrifice. The other problem, however, would arise if Lucifer walked free. Then the True Cross would be needed to defeat him. Or try to. The Books of Fate tell us that when no more evil exists on Earth then angels will have no further duties and humans will live a life of total euphoria before gradually ascending to Heaven and onwards. If it comes to Lucifer walking free, Michael could probably defeat Lucifer without the weapon, Ariel explained, though the damage to Earth would be irreversible. Michael would have to resort to using the Earth itself as a weapon and this would result in the death of hundreds of billions of humans. It was therefore imperative that they succeed in their mission tonight to avoid this altogether.

  “What about Michael acting against God?”

  “It’s something I suspect, and clearly Pravuil and others are in agreement. Michael has decided to rid the planet of evil in any way he can, and I suspect he will be willing to destroy anything that gets in his way. Something has happened that we yet do not know. Michael wants to capture your family and he has failed. He was preparing a full scale war, and then he learned of you and stopped. Gabriel, an archangel and potential ally, has also perished.”

  “And this is significant because…?”

  “Gabriel was an extremely powerful archangel. He was known for his compassion, I suspect his death was not accidental. Gabriel would never allow Michael to rid this planet of evil in the method he suggests. Waging an all-out war against Hell, in a world as populated as this, would precipitate the apocalypse. The
refore, I feel he has been silenced. We have lost an important ally.”

  “You’re thinking is Michael will not start this war until he has us in his custody?”

  “Exactly, David. Though I don’t know how long that will apply for. Timing is essential here. If we do not act soon against Michael then we may force his hand. Simply staying in hiding is not an option. We find the True Cross, we give Michael an ultimatum and divert the planet from disaster. Therefore saving the experiment.”

  “And if Michael decides to go to war anyway. What happens to my family then?”

  The question threw Ariel. For his colossal intelligence it was something he had not considered. Would his actions in attempting to protect this family force Michaels hand into war? Worse, what would happen if that was the case? Amber and himself would have to leave and try and rally support across the planet, leaving the Bassetts to their own devices. Michael may be upping the ratchet as a tool to get them back. The questions and possibilities now overtook his mind. Urgent council with Pravuil would be needed when this mission was over.

  “That David, is a question we will both need to ask Pravuil after this meeting.”

  After explaining all this and again stressing how important it was they succeed, Ariel vanished. He had other people to see before they arrived in Jerusalem. David was neither shocked nor surprised by this. If everything being said was true, and a war did begin then he was under no illusion the angels and demons currently helping them would vanish instantly. He returned to gazing out the window. He should be landing in about ten minutes.

  Chapter 27

  On the other side of the world in America, Amber was deep in the throes of exploring an old, abandoned church. The area of Ferndale in the city of Detroit was a sad sight. Already thoroughly dilapidated and derelict before the recession of 2008, an eerie, disconcerting mood had settled in around this neighbourhood. The church itself was old fashioned, with grey stone and one single spire. All but one of its artful stained glass windows had been smashed. The gardens around it had been overcome by the ugliest of weeds and overgrown bushes. A single uneven wooden cross stood in the middle of the garden, visible as they walked up the cobbled moss stone path. The entrance was barricaded with a large wooden door, flanked by twisted metal bars and scratched into the solid wood was ‘ONLY EVIL HERE. KEEP OUT’.

  Staring at the engraving, Amber checked her surroundings and tensed. The churches’ antiquated and unkempt drain systems meant they were standing in a pool of stagnant water. The church offered no safe abode from the storm.

  “Lana,” said Amber, nodding. She had been told to expect her. Pravuil really was keeping this group small.

  “Amber,” nodded Lana.

  Here goes nothing, Lana thought. She raised her arm and tried to remove the metal bars, but they only shook ever so slightly. Trying again with much more angelic force, she encountered the same problem. Clearly, there was some kind of evil enchantment protecting this church. “Hmmm, something a little less subtle I imagine,” she opined, walking down the steps from the front entrance and turning towards the door, raising her arm. Her eyes lit widely and a gust of wind encircled her. A sustained jolt of pure white energy blasted the door from her arm until it finally buckled and was blown apart. Blue smoke rose through the wreckage and the twisted metal singed. Relaxing her arm and stepping forward, Lana was now sure that she had found the right place. Their long coats blew in the wind as she entered the old church with Amber.

  Amber visibly shivered whilst gazing around the church towards the altar. There was something sinister and wrong here, she could feel it. To make an angel shiver usually suggested that terrible evil had been committed within these walls. She looked round towards the altar and it took all her training not to let out an audible gasp at what was bolted into it. An upside down cross, soaked in blood had been forcefully stabbed into the marble alter. On the cross itself, was the remains of a crucified baby. Walking towards the altar they could see an inscription scratched and scrawled into the marble. Looking down at what was inscribed, Amber’s mouth tensed and she raised her head firmly. Lana looked down; it read ‘Those yet to decide will have the same fate’. By the colour of the blood and the smell, Amber concluded this must only be a few days old. A terrible thought crossed Amber’s mind, something she would never have considered possible before. It was right then she realised she was not alone.

  “Show yourself!” ordered Amber, ready to fight. Her eyes pulsated brightly, emanating energy and casting a slight glow on the roof of the church which shone down onto her. Stepping out from under the picture illustrating the Resurrection and into a dim light the figure was finally illuminated. What she saw repulsed her: a man in draggled, ripped clothes, drenched in blood with red stains around his mouth. He also appeared to have bits of flesh stuck to this face and other parts of his body. She was positive they weren’t his own. His eye sockets seemed hollow.

  “This place is sacred. LEAVE NOW!” bellowed the stranger, blood and saliva spitting from his mouth. He started walking towards her with his fists clenched. The light in the church began to dim rapidly and shadows started racing around the walls. The light Amber was emanating strained and fought against the darkness he exuded.

  “If this place is sacred, you wouldn’t be here,” declared Amber, holding her ground and not budging.

  He kept moving forward as the air was getting colder and colder. Amber, deciding to show some force and let him know that they could defend themselves shot a massive jolt of energy just in front of him. The ground singed and he stopped.

  “As you can see, we can take care of ourselves. Now start talking! What is this place? What’s your name? What’s the meaning of this?” she shouted, pointing towards him and the mutilated baby on the altar.

  “Why don’t I show you?” he grinned, and started off towards a small wooden door in the back of the church.

  Deciding she needed answers, she would have to follow him. Looking at Lana, they both agreed.

  He waited for her at the door as she walked over. She motioned for him to go first, ready to blast him into a million pieces if he tried anything. Behind the door was a long, narrow winding staircase carved from stone. Water dripped from the ceilings and only the occasional dimly lit candle on the wall provided enough light to stop them from falling. The stairs led to a vast cavernous room. It must have spanned the whole length and breadth of the church. Each of the four walls were barely visible, drenched with maps and book shelves. A couple of candles in the middle of the room sat upon an old oak table and helped illuminate the place. The stranger walked over to the table and sat down, motioning them to do the same.

  “Don’t think I can’t see your true form, you little angel,” he spat, using the sleeve of his coat to wipe some blood away from his mouth. Remaining standing, Amber was taken aback by the statement. “You’re here because of the corrupted ones. The ones who have powers that shouldn’t. The dirt of the Earth. Those who were born with no right for their gifts and who use them for your own advantage!” he shouted whilst slamming his fist of the table. The candles blinked with the sudden motion ripple.

  Amber stayed standing and maintained her cool. Lana simply stared forward, cold and calculated.

  “I didn’t come down here to be insulted. I want answers and if you don’t give us them we’ll get them ourselves. If that means torturing more blood out of that mouth of yours believe me when I say I have no problem in doing that. We are on a schedule,” shouted Amber, her eyes now ablaze. Her patience had run out. She felt this might have been a wild goose chase. A momentary flutter of fear showed on his face.

  “It’s them. The dirt of the Earth” he replied.

  “What?”

  “Exactly.”

  “Explain now. Or die.”

  Lana stood behind her, unsure of how this was playing out, and she half suspected they may not like what they were about to learn.

  Chapter 28

  David had been to Jerusalem once when he
was a child. He hated it then and he hated it now. He regarded the city as a poorly patched together assemblage of history. Destroyed and rebuilt and pillaged time and again. This mission was in his mind impossible. He could only rely on angelic help, much to his chagrin. In a cab on his way to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre David was astounded by the total sadness that seemed to linger in the air. The airport was empty; they didn’t even enter the terminal. Once their private jet landed a taxi was waiting for them and the driver seemed to be under some sort of mind influence. He was clearly programmed to obey any order they gave. As they crossed through into what was known as the Old City of Jerusalem the mood worsened more. It almost seemed as if these people knew a lot more than the rest of the world, him included. The cab motored on through the small narrow streets, its window wipers battling the storm at full force. Explosions sounded in the distance as the Middle East attempted to tear itself apart.

  Approaching the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, David spotted a lone silhouette of a man standing just outside. He was holding an umbrella and as the cab got closer, he vanished. Ariel took time to peer out the windows and inspect the area. He didn’t care much for someone vanishing but at the moment they had more pressing matters to attend to. Considering how close they were to the epicentre of religious purity, unusual happenings were only natural especially given the current climate. Stepping out of the cab in their long winter coats, David was instantly grateful for them. Even with the long thick coats and leather gloves, ice cold wind and rain still seeped through. Before now, he didn’t even think it ever rained in Jerusalem.