by Roy Bright
Completing the moderate climb up the stairs leading to the Basilica, Judas moves aside a portion of barrier that would have been used to filter tourists into the building. He steps through the opening lined either side by gigantic pillars and into the entrance hall. Ahead lies the Holy Door, a huge metal sealed entrance with 16 panels featuring carvings telling the stories of the exile of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, the Easter mystery, and the birth of the church.
“Wow!” Charlotte says, taking a moment to stop and look.
“You ain’t seen nothing yet, kid,” Judas replies, glancing back and smiling at her.
Jophiel scoffs. “Symbolic structures within symbolic buildings; their importance placed higher than the message itself. Something He never wanted nor asked for. This is not important.”
Charlotte looks surprised. “Are you saying that my Father doesn’t find this stuff impressive? That the architectural wonders created in His name don’t please him?”
Uriel laughs. “Self-designated men of importance using vast sums of wealth to create self-designated idols of so-called importance. What part of the message that we have been striving to impart upon humans since the dawn of their time do you think this covers?”
She shakes her head. “But people find this inspiring. They flock… they had flocked to it in their thousands to draw on its spirituality.”
Jophiel sighs. “You were meant to draw your spirituality from one another, by being good, honest, and selfless. The art on offer both here and inside is indeed inspiring but certain people made great wealth from it and that is not what was intended. Not by Him.”
“Yeah, well,” she says, “I don’t know how it works in Heaven, but here on Earth we used to need some shit called money, y’know, to like eat and survive.”
“Another system you created,” Uriel says, joining in and wagging his finger at her, “where some get rich and others die hungry. There were always alternative ways.”
She rolls her eyes at Judas. “Jesus Christ, we’ve been stuck with the hippy angel brigade.”
He smirks at her. “Come on. Let’s get inside.”
They turn right and set off toward the entrance into the Basilica and Judas sighs, seeing that the main entrance is blocked by a large rectangular piece of masonry.
“A hand?” he says, glancing at Uriel, who sheathes his sword and steps to him. They grab the huge piece of rubble and unfurl their wings, then lift into the air and levitate it to the side, dropping it to the floor with a deafening crunch.
Stowing his wings, Judas grabs Charlotte by the shoulder as she is about to step into the church. “Hey, why don’t you let me go first? We have no idea what’s in there.”
“I’m not a child,” she says, prying his hand off, “I can take care of myself.”
“I know that, better than anyone. Just indulge me. Call it a father’s worry, okay?”
She smiles and waves him through. “Age before beauty.”
“You got that right,” he says, laughing.
They step into the church and although it is in partial ruin, it is still an impressive sight with its high interior, intricate carvings, gold-painted ceilings, and lettering running all around under the lip of the coving above. Their footsteps echo throughout the cavernous chamber as they head toward the altar at the far end.
“So, where are we going?” she asks, looking around and marveling at the beautiful sights within.
“Into the catacombs below,” Judas replies, “There is a passage that leads away from St Peter’s Tomb. Not many know of it, but I do, although upon the occasion I had to enter I never did fully explore the place.”
“You’ve been here before?” she says.
He smiles and winks at her.
“Why didn’t you get to explore it then?”
“Well, let’s just say I was in a bit of a hurry to complete a mission that very few knew about.” He smiles again. “If we make it out of this, I’ll tell you all about it one day. But for now we need to press on.”
“Something has been in here, something not of man,” Jophiel says, pointing to a large hole in the roof.
Judas nods. “Yeah, that would explain the devastation. It seems patterned, as though something systematically made its way around the interior. No doubt chasing down the unfortunate within. It probably enjoyed it, having sealed the entrance prior with that enormous piece of masonry. I fucking hate demons.”
“I can’t believe Sammy betrayed us,” Charlotte says, her gaze to the floor as she walks.
“I can,” Uriel says, causing the others to look at him. Although calm, he looks angry. “Unchecked, a lust for power can poison even the holiest of souls and that is what Samael has yearned for over countless years. I should have spotted it from his constant sniping at Michael – that he could lead the team better, that he should be in charge. Of course he hid it well, using sarcasm and innocent little jokes when faced with a particularly tricky foe or when one of Michael’s missions had not gone quite as planned, but it was there, buried beneath the smiles, the grins, the leering. I should have foreseen this.” He shakes his head.
“Hindsight is a wonderful thing, Uriel,” Judas says. “Don’t beat yourself up about it.”
“But I should, Judas. Foresight is exactly what we Archangels possess. The gift to see all that happens through time as one coherent vision. I – indeed all of us – should have seen this coming.”
“Maybe, but Lucifer screwed with that stuff when he made his play for Charlotte. Not to mention that I’m sure Barachiel had more than a hand in keeping Sammy’s part in this off everyone’s radar. What’s done is done. We can’t change that but we can change what has not yet been.”
Charlotte, still puzzled, interrupts. “There’s one thing I don’t get. If Barachiel knew where The Book and the Seal are, why didn’t he come get them himself? Why leave them here?” She gestures around with her hand. “In fact, why didn’t he retrieve the other Seals before Lucifer had a chance to?”
Judas glances at Ikazuchi, then sighs and motions to him with his head. “This one wants to speak. Again.” He offers his hand forward and the sword detaches from his body, materializing as Azazel.
“Ahhh, St Peter’s Basilica,” he says, “a beautiful gift to God from the wealthy Catholics of the world who pass judgment on those considered not so worthy, while living in sin and debauchery. It’s why they’re my favorite group.” His grin drips with sarcasm.
“Enough, Ika,” Judas says, growing tired of his sneering ways. “You wanted to tell us what you know, so tell us or go back to sleep.”
“All right, all right Master.” More sarcasm. “I’ll tell you.”
They stop in front of St Peter’s Baldachin, a huge and splendid Baroque sculpted bronze canopy that stands above the high altar. The Basilica’s architectural design is that of a cross and the Baldachin sits in the center of the crossing, under the Basilica’s dome, marking the location of St Peter’s Tomb below.
Azazel smiles as he observes Charlotte marveling at it, the altar highlighted by bright moonbeams, penetrating through the ruined structure of the roof, casting an ethereal light across it. “Beautiful isn’t it? The things men can do when they put their minds to art and not war.”
She glances at him, not wishing to engage in conversation with the creature as her unease around him continues to grow.
Azazel’s wicked smile wanes and he huffs then looks back at the altar. “It’s a shame that man’s desire, his true nature, has been to cause death and destruction over the centuries instead of turning his heart to this. Don’t ya think?”
He looks at her, slow and steady, a sly smile in the corner of his mouth and her disdain for him grows even higher.
“We’re kinda busy here, Ika,” Judas interrupts. “So say what you have to say and let’s be off.”
“Hmm, okay,” he says, shifting his gaze to Judas. “But would it be too much trouble for you to call me by my true name, when I am in this form that is?” He gestur
es at himself.
“Get on with it Ikazuchi,” Judas retorts, defiant.
“Very well Master.” He nods, just a little, enough to be considered petulant. “What I can determine from our little adventure with Barachiel and reading between the lines with this wonderful influx of new knowledge,” he looks at Charlotte and taps his temple, “it really is amazing what he had going on in there, you know.”
She glares at him.
He smiles. “…is that, he wanted Lucifer, or at least one of his lackeys, to find the first four Seals and release them.”
“Why?” Charlotte asks, her facial expression unchanged toward him.
“Because, sweetums, whoever opens them is consumed upon the arrival of the four Ancient Ones that they summon. A sort of sacrifice if you will, an offering of power to grease the wheels of their entry. Seems odd that a benevolent God such as He above would require such a thing but you know, at times, he ain’t too different from the angry guy below. And I like that side of him.” He grins.
“Such a thing is not written,” Uriel says, annoyed with his summation of The Almighty.
“No, it is not, Uriel. But it is true, of that you can trust me.”
Uriel regards him with contempt. “Trust in a selfless, corrupt, and heartless creature such as yourself? That’ll be the day.”
“Sticks and stones, brother. Sticks and stones,” he replies, laughing.
“Okay,” Charlotte says, growing tired with him, “so he didn’t want to die bringing forth the Four Horsemen.” She looks at each of them. “I’m sick of all this cryptic bullshit of ‘Ancient Ones’ and ‘those who cannot be named’. It’s the Four Horsemen. We all know it. So let’s just refer to them as what they are. Okay?”
Judas smiles, and so too does Azazel.
“So why didn’t he secure the other Seals? And please get to the point, it’s getting late and I would like this to be over sooner rather than later.”
“Well, he left the other Seals where they were because he was waiting for the Horsemen to pave the way for him.”
She looks at him in confusion. “But he wouldn’t be the one controlling them? In fact, no one would since the one who calls them forth is consumed as a sacrifice. You said it yourself.”
“That is true, the one who breaks the Seals is sacrificed, but the one who holds the Seal of the Four would control them.”
She flaps her arms in exasperation. “Can you not just give us all the information at once please?”
He holds up a hand to placate her. “The Seal of the Four is an artifact made up of one fragmented piece of each of the first four broken Seals, bonded together. It is that Seal that will allow the one who wields it to control them. What I can tell you, and this isn’t even a guess, is that Malphas would have had some unwitting sap do his bidding, destined to be destroyed upon their arrival, and then he will have created the Seal of the Four and be the one in control. He is Lucifer’s highest ranking officer after all, so he will put the Riders to task and set them loose upon the world.”
“So,” she says, annoyed, “getting to the point, why has Malphas got hold of the Fifth Seal and why did Barachiel not just retrieve the ones Lucifer didn’t have beforehand?”
“Arrogance maybe? Over-confidence? Probably. He just never expected him to find the other three, which are the most important Seals. The rider’s Seals pave the way for the Apocalypse, this is true but it is the last three, inserted into The Book in order to open it, that truly sets the wheels in motion. Barachiel figured he would let Lucifer do his dirty work and then roll in at the last minute and steal his thunder.”
She loses her patience with him. “But how did he get the Fifth Seal if Barachiel only intended him to have the first four?”
“Fate, my dear. Fate and a stroke of wicked bad luck. When he hid the Seals away, he locked the Seventh below us, knowing that no one would find it, trust me, you’ll know why when you see its hiding place. The Fifth and Sixth were entrusted to two families of the purest hearts, forever to pass down to generation after generation, their importance only revealed to the carrier’s successor when they had reached a certain level of maturity and understanding. You already met one of the families.”
“Abigail,” Charlotte says, glancing at Judas.
“Yes. Abigail and her siblings, although her entrustment with the Seal was premature, hastened by Lucifer’s little spat. The other, well, this is both a tale of tragedy and comedy as the one carrying it simply choked to death a short while back on a sandwich, of all things. Has a real Mamas & the Papas vibe to it, don’t ya think?” He chuckles, but stops as no one else joins him in sharing the joke. He clears his throat. “Well, following that hapless soul’s death, a real shitheel of a person removed a pendant from around their neck. The Fifth Seal. And in a flash, Lucifer knew where it was. And there you have it. Barachiel was pissed but he knew it unlikely that Lucifer would get lucky a second or even third time so he was still prepared to wait it out. Until our untimely intervention that is.”
Jophiel looks at him in confusion. “He was just going to wait it out?”
Azazel gives an unconvincing shrug.
“And he just entrusted the Seals to humans, where anything could happen to them?”
Azazel shrugs again.
Jophiel walks away, shaking his head.
“Hey,” Azazel says, calling after him, “don’t blame me, I’m not the batshit crazy one throwing Seals all over the place.”
Striding back toward him, Jophiel stares at Azazel for a moment, then points at him. “You. Barachiel wanted you. That is why he sent Samael to Judas and put him onto this path, knowing full well that he wouldn’t take no for an answer and would seek you out.”
Azazel smiles.
“Why?” Uriel asks. “Why did he want you?”
“Arrogance, my boy. That’s why. In his arrogance he believed that he could pit my brother against me, and that he would win. Stupid rabbit. I am the strongest of the three, and always will be, but he couldn’t grasp that. He thought that Leviathan would be able to consume me and thereby increase his power exponentially, allowing him to confront Lucifer and take his Seal back. But as powerful as Barachiel was, he was no match for Lucifer. Or indeed Judas, it would seem.”
Uriel frowns. “But why go to all this trouble? Why didn’t he send Samael in for you or go himself for that matter?”
“Samael? Ha! Don’t make me laugh. That pathetic sniveling fool isn’t fit to so much as look at me, never mind possess the ability to wield me. And as for Barachiel, well he couldn’t because I wouldn’t allow him in. No one entered my prison without my permission and he did not, nor ever would have it. Ever.” He smiles. “And now he is dead thanks to my master.”
Concern hits Charlotte like a train and she steps to Judas’ side. “So why allow my dad in, why allow him to compete to wield you? What’s your game Azazel?”
“No game, my dear. And thank you for using my name by the way, it is appreciated.” He grins.
Jophiel prods a finger at him. “Answer her, demon. Why allow Judas to control you?”
“Because he is the only one worthy of doing so, and because we have much great work to do together. It is our destiny to restore the balance and put your world right, for as long as we are able to that is. He is the only one capable of this.” He looks at Charlotte and then smiles. This time it is a sweet smile, a warm smile, and more unnerving than ever. “Then this one gets to do her thing and put the world back on its feet.”
He reaches out to touch her face.
“Don’t even fucking think about it,” she says, recoiling from him.
Uriel and Jophiel look at her in unison, shocked.
A silence befalls them for a short time, each coming to terms with the information. At last, Judas breaks it.
“So, retrieving the Seventh Seal from below is only the beginning. We have to hope Michael reaches the child in time and then we are going to have to get the Fifth from Lucifer, aren’t we?”
Azazel smiles at him. “All in good time, my friend. All in good time.” He slips a hand over his shoulder and with it, transforms into Ikazuchi, sliding into place upon Judas’ back once more.
Judas regards his companions for a moment. “Okay. Enough wasted time. Let’s get this Seal and be on our way.” He descends the stairs down to St Peter’s Tomb and the others follow him.
Forty-Eight
Coming to the end of the shaft and peering over it, Abigail is thankful that there is a walkway below that she can lower herself down to. She leans over a little more and looks up. Somewhere far above, a light source filters its way down providing her area with meager but sufficient lighting for her to see. As she prepares to drop down, she looks around to see small handprints all over the surface of the shaft. Are there other children here? she frowns. Surely children don’t live in a place like this? She glances back as a she hears a crumpling noise from deeper within the shaft and it hurries along her desire to leave. Twisting her body around and dangling over the edge on her front, she drops down onto the walkway within a maintenance shaft, her feet clanking on the metal. She wipes her hands on her dirty and torn dress and looks around, wondering what her next move should be. She doesn’t want to go up, that’s for sure, as doing so never works out and Isaac has always told her that if in doubt, go down, never up, but the ominous darkness below scares her and she is in a pickle about it. The same noise she heard a few moments ago grabs her attention again and she looks up, studying the opening of the shaft, attempting to chase down its location. She can’t stay here any longer. She’s going down, no matter how frightening it is below. Moving at speed but taking great care to make as little noise as possible, she descends the metal staircase.