by T. R. Lester
“What do you think the chances are that we will prevent this war from happening?”
Uriel appears to think for a moment before responding.
“If you find the soul, the chances are better. We can’t determine anything until that is done. The souls are the key in all this.”
I wake suddenly, still sitting at the table in front of the books I had been reading.
Looking around to get my bearings, I see Taz standing beside me and Grey looking at me from his bedroom doorway.
“Are you ok? I heard you talking. It sounded like you were talking to someone, but I could only hear your voice.” Grey asks.
“I’m fine.”
“I got a clue on where we will start looking for the first seal bearer. Uriel came to me in my dream. He said we will find this person at the home of the blessed after their death and the resting place for the souls of the pure.”
“What the hell does that even mean?” Grey asks.
“Well, that’s for us to find out. He said he was not allowed to give me an exact location. Don’t ask why because I didn’t ask. It’s an angel thing I guess.”
Grey snorts.
“So, tomorrow, I need you to use your internet skills and find out where we’re going. He also said there is a bearer for each seal, so that means we’ll be looking for more than one person.”
Grey lets out a groan.
In my years of dealing with demonic beings, the one thing I’ve learned is that they can’t directly lie to a question asked of them. They will, however, manipulate the question until it fits with their needs. What I mean is they will lie in ways that benefit themselves, not you. If that even makes sense. They can twist that truth to their benefit. Will angels do the same?
Totally worn out from the day and lack of sleep, I get up and head to the bedroom I will be occupying. After stripping off my clothes down to my shorts, I fall into bed and sleep like the dead.
What seemed like a few hours later, I was rudely awakened by a bright ray of light scorching my retina. Prying my eye open slightly, I can see it’s the sun coming through the window blind. I smell bacon and eggs cooking, smell coffee brewing and hear the television on the news station.
“At 6:47 this morning, a body was discovered floating in the duck pond at Ballard Park. No more information has been released pending identification and notification of family. Please stay tuned as we continue to follow this story.”
Sitting up on the side of the bed, I reach for some jeans, a T-shirt with KISS on it, yes, I’m a diehard fan, and my boots. I head into the kitchen to get a cup of coffee and see Grey sitting on the patio.
“I’m going to see Jackson, make sure he’s ok.” I tell Grey.
“I’ll stay here and start searching for our destination.” Grey says with a snort.
I nod.
On the drive into the city, using Grey’s car since I still haven’t gone and got my truck, I take a minute to open a link with Lucifer.
“Luke?”
“Yes boy.”
“Has Asmodeus talked with Nivel yet?”
“Well… you could say that, yes.”
“What does that mean?”
“Do you know the story of Prometheus boy?”
“The one Zeus staked to Mount Caucasus and let an eagle feed upon his regenerating liver?”
“Yes. That one.” Luke says with a hint of… what? Joy? Probably. He is a demon after all.
“Imagine that setting, only with a hell hound instead of an eagle, boy.”
“I’m not sure I want to imagine that.” I say.
“Nivel is paying for what he did to Lucius boy.”
“I understand that, but why not just kill him and be done with it?”
“He should suffer for what he did.” Luke said.
Since I see there is no reasoning with Lucifer Morningstar, I drop the subject.
“Do you think Grey and I will be able to handle this job alone? I know we have assistance, but shouldn’t we have a triumvirate again?”
“That would make you stronger, yes. I will let you make that decision boy.”
“I’m kind of scared you know? This a not a small, send the demon back to hell job.”
“You are right. It’s no small task. But, you were chosen because someone has much faith that you can prevent this war boy.”
“Fine. I’m glad someone does, because I don’t.”
“You will be fine boy.”
“I’m at the hospital. I’ll let you know when we head to Louisiana.”
The link drops and I turn into the dreaded hospital and try to find a parking spot. I hate trying to park here.
I chat with a guy I went to school with for a few minutes, then make an excuse to leave him. Walking into the hospital, I make my way over to the receptionist.
“I’m looking for Marcus Jackson’s room.”
She takes a moment to check and tells me he’s on the second floor, room 2102.
I catch the elevator and ride up.
Hospitals always make me feel as if death is near. I think it is for some, but why do I sense that so strongly in a hospital? I mean all people aren’t here to die. Is death just hanging around a corner or what?
I take a minute to knock, then hear a deep voice say, “come in.”
I go in.
Marcus is sitting on the side of the bed actually looking pretty great.
“How are you feeling?” I ask.
“I’m all right. I feel reasonably good.”
“Glad to hear.”
After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, Marcus speaks.
“What happened in the park? I mean, I know there was a suspect who had a woman captive, and he was going to kill her.”
I nod.
“But, not a lot after that.” He says.
“He is a summoner. Luke says one that was imprisoned by him years ago who somehow managed to get free. He apparently knocked you out when you ran in to stop him.”
“That’s not right. Look man, I remember that bastard burying a dagger in my chest. I remember being on the ground, unable to take a breath. I remember you leaning over me telling me I was going to be ok. So, don’t bullshit me.”
So, I sit and think for a minute.
“Ok. You know what I do. You know I’m a demon hunter and you know sometimes I have to be less than professional when sending them back, right?”
“Yeah, I know you send them back by whatever means you have to use.”
I simply nod again.
“I recently found out I have a link… connection…… oh hell, that an angel is my sire.”
Marcus sits in silence with no expression at all. He probably thinks I’m nuts at this point.
“It seems that my destiny is to stop the apocalypse. The one that will wipe out all humanity.”
“You mean the one in Revelations?”
“That would be the one, yes.”
“How?”
“First, I have to ask you this. Will you be able to keep this to yourself? Be able to resist the urge to act like a cop and be able to let me handle this as I know how?”
Marcus pauses to ponder over that question, then answers, “Yes.”
I give him all the details I have so far from Luke, Alfazon and Uriel. The more I talk, the wider his eyes seem to grow.
“What about me?”
I look at him questioningly.
“I know he stabbed me. How am I alive Kas?”
So, I told him. I told him of my talents and how I used them to save his life. When I was finished, there were tears glistening in his eyes. Not falling, but just sitting on the edges waiting to fall.
I cleared my throat and broke the silence.
“I really need to go. We have to find this seal bearer. I say, heading to the door.”
“I want to help you guys.” Marcus says.
I stop and turn to look at him.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. I’m sure. I want to help.”
“Fair enough.” Marcus says.
I grab the door handle and pull it open.
“Thank you for my life.” Marcus says.
Without turning, I give him a nod of my head, then step into the hall.
Chapter 15
Finally getting back to the car, I leave the hospital and head to the help center that Alfazon frequents. I pull in and park and can see him through the window. He looks out and I wave to him.
“What a nice surprise.” He states as he leaves the building.
“I just came by to let you know we are heading out today. Can you get out to the house for a quick lunch? I want to talk to you about Uriel’s visit.”
“Of course. I can ride with you?”
“Sure. How will you come back?”
“I can still teleport. I have a few of my abilities left.” He says with a smile.
“We caught Nivel last night. He made mention of Gadreel. But there is more than Gadreel in on this plan they have conjured.”
“Nivel? That snivelling fool. How did he get free?” Alfazon asks.
“No idea. I would guess Gadreel or one of his flunkies.”
“He was once a great summoner. I think something may have happened to his mind during a summoning one time.”
“Maybe.”
Upon opening my door when we reach the house, I am immediately overtaken by a big smelly beast and thrown to the ground.
“Oh come on, dude. Lay off.” I tell Taz.
I can hear Grey on the porch snorting with laughter.
“I see you have an admirer.” Alfazon says.
After Taz finishes slobbering me over, he walks over to Alfazon, takes a sniff, then pushes his muzzle firmly into Alfazon’s hand.
“It seems like you have one now.”
“I see.” Alfazon says, and he strokes Taz’s muzzle.
“Grey can you get that note I jotted that clue on please?”
“Sure.”
Grey comes back out with the note pad and one of the books he’s been reading.
“Princes of Hell?” I ask him.
“Attempting to find out all I can dude.” Grey says.
I laugh.
I sit and wave Alfazon to sit and slide the note pad over to him.
“Do you know what this means?”
After looking over the note, Alfazon looks at Kas and smiles.
“Of course I do. Where did he tell you to go?”
“New Orleans.”
“This riddle is a reference for a place.”
“And would you know what place that is?” I ask.
“Yes. It’s reference for the Elysian Fields. Thus, I would imagine there is a street or place in New Orleans named this.” Alfazon says.
“What are the Elysian Fields?” Grey asks.
“They were referred to as a beautiful meadow where the favoured of Zeus could have ultimate happiness. They were said to be the Greek Eden. Now, they are said to be in the underworld as the home of the dead who were judged worthy of divine favor.”
“Then this could be a street, cemetery or something, right?”
“I suppose.”
“It’s a street dude.” Greyson says.
“Elysian Fields Street, New Orleans.” He says.
“Great. Now we know where to go.” I say.
“Then we need to get going. We have to pack.”
“I already packed the weapons. Get what you want to bring. Are we taking Taz?” Grey asks.
“We are, yes.”
Taz wags his odd-looking tail. When he isn’t in hell hound form, his tail looks like it has an arrow on the end. When he is a hell hound, he has a serpent for a tail.
“Remember, if you need me, just open the link. I can be there immediately. Do you understand?” Alfazon asks.
“I do. Thank you.”
I walk over to Ava and talk to her about where we will be going. I know she can follow. I don’t know how she does it, but she can. That's a good question to ask.
“Alfazon? How does Ava appear when I need her?”
“I would think that she holds the power to open the thin veil that divides the worlds. Have you not seen this happen? I would also guess that this isn’t her world, but she chooses to live here with you.”
Ava ruffles her feathers in agreement.
“I saw it the other night, but that was the first time for me. She carried numerous spirits at once through the veil.”
“She’s a well-practiced guide to be able to do that.” Alfazon says.
“Luke says she won’t die.”
“She won’t. She’s a spirit guide.”
“That’s just too cool dude.”
I roll my eyes at Grey. The dork.
Taking my leave and heading inside, I gather all items I may or may not need and load them into Grey’s truck. Am I ready for this fight? I don’t know. Do I want this fight? Not really. I don’t know how people expect to continue mistreating the world and each other and have no consequences. The one thing I do know is that this time, there won’t be a lifesaving ark for some. It will be a total destruction of mankind. Our Creator’s way of erasing all the wickedness from a world he created to be loved and care for.
Why was I chosen? I don’t know. But I know I have to overcome all obstacles placed in front of me to succeed and keep the seals safe and closed.
This should be very interesting….
The End
T.R. Lester currently makes her home in Tupelo, Ms. She has a full-time job and writes when not working.
She is an avid reader of dark fantasy, horror, dystopian, and post-apocalyptic books. She tries to take the serious edge off by adding humor and sarcasm into her books. She is currently working on the Kastor Blackwood series and hopes to have the next one completed by the spring of 2017.
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