Judas: The Relic (The Iscariot Warrior Series Book 2)

by Roy Bright

  She flinches as he leans forward and taps her forehead with his finger.

  ***

  Her eyes snap open and Charlotte looks around. Wind rushes against her back and her hair whips around her face. She looks ahead and a billion stars twinkle and shine. Falling. I’m falling! she thinks to herself and turns around to face the ground. Her arms and legs flap in the wind, spread outward in a star shape. The ground looms ahead. She hasn’t much time. She tries to call upon her Divinity but cannot, her energy stores depleted. She chastises herself as creating a shield would be no use anyway. Falling at this speed, it would not protect her upon crashing into the ground.

  Blind panic sets in but despite it, she forces calm upon herself and thinks back to the dream.

  Was it a dream? Was it real? It doesn’t matter, I can’t focus on such things right now. The Horseman said that I now possess his talents and that I should dig deep within to find them. But what? What should I use? A portal. Yes. That’s it. But I have no Divinity.

  She shakes her head within her mind.

  No, I have his energy to use as well. I can use his dark energy. But even if I create a portal to the ground I’ll die, as I will leave it at the same velocity I enter. I need to curb my speed first.

  Looking up she thrusts her hand out and rips a dark portal open above her, then throws her other hand downward, creating a second. She falls through it and then reappears from the other one above, her hope being to decrease her speed as she moves between them. She repeats the process a couple of times and then curses herself. It’s not working. Another shake of her internal head. Annoyed, considering that she has just told herself anything leaving a portal will appear at the same velocity at which it entered. She looks below and to her right. Approaching fast, she can see the River Tiber. She needs to do something as the ground is almost upon her. She closes her eyes and throws her hand out toward the direction of the river, then her other down and enters the dark portal beneath her.

  Another explodes open within the River Tiber and out of it whooshes Charlotte. A million bubbles rush around her as she torpedoes further down into the river and then slows to a stop many feet below its surface. She rips open another portal around her and then appears on the bank of the river on her hands and knees, water cascading off her. She takes a deep breath. “Holy shit,” she says, looking up at the sky from where she has just fallen. Gathering herself, she gets to her feet. She doesn’t have time to dwell on her miraculous escape. For a reason unknown to herself, she bows her head and then throws her arms out to her side, her palms facing forward. She remains that way for a few moments, unsure of why she has done it. Then, whistling through the night air, her swords fly into them and she wraps her hands around them. She smiles, but it fades as she turns around toward the sound of the cataclysmic explosion that rips open behind her. Judas! she thinks to herself, then throws open another dark portal.

  Fifty-Four

  Gary shields his face from the downdraft of the Blackhawk helicopter as it awaits to be filled. He looks at Nathan. “How? Where?”

  Bending over and forced to raise his voice over the turbulent noise, Nathan waves forward a group of survivors, ushering them toward the transport.

  The side door of the helicopter opens and Jonesy leans out, guiding people into the aircraft. He holds a hand up to Gary.

  Astonished, Gary does the same without thinking. He turns back toward Nathan. “What the hell happened?” he shouts over the roar of the rotors.

  Nathan grabs his arm and leads him away as the helicopter gets airborne, filled to capacity. He looks up at it as it flies away, and as the noise of its rotors fade they are able to talk without shouting. He sighs as he looks at Gary. “Fortune favors the brave, or so it seems my friend. After we were hit by those spider things, the team split up.”

  Gary gestures to him that he knows this part of the story.

  “Well, the vehicle with Jonesy, Ted, and Andy plus a couple of others managed to punch their way through. They moved out of the danger area, regrouped, and got on with the original plan. They had a discussion and came to the conclusion that going back and wrestling through demons was a bad idea. So they thought if they could get that bird into the air, they could try to find the rest of us and that would be best for everyone. The chances were slim, but they were better than nothing. They got to the airport where the Chinook was. Found it exactly as you said, unmolested and intact. Looked like nobody had bothered it whatsoever.”

  Gary straightens up a little and raises his eyebrows.

  “Exactly, buddy. God does work in mysterious ways. That ain’t the half of it though. They get to work and would you believe it, inside the cabin they find a flight pack with detailed communication instructions from where the bird came from. God only knows what had happened to the crew, but they must have left it in a hurry because it was just lying there. Turns out they were from Canadian Forces Base Bagotville in Quebec. Ted located the base’s frequency and with a bit of tinkering from Andy with the mechanics, they got the radio up and running and put in a call.”

  “They raised the base I take it?”

  “They got more than that, Gary. Seems CFB Bagotville has been doing pretty well. Set up a great perimeter, packed to the gunnels with ordnance, and with a fully functioning air wing. Ted explained to them who they and we are and they sent air units down to get them. He also gave them our comms frequencies and they spam chat on the radio all the way down hoping to catch a hold of one us. They did – me.”

  Gary looks up. “Guess someone was on our side big time for once.”

  “You betchya. I saw those bastards grab you and Abigail…” his voice tails off and he looks down, then gathers himself, “…and I followed you to the mall over there. That’s when I called in the gunship support. Took them a while to get here, but those boys delivered big-time. When they were close, I went in after you lot. I’m just sorry I didn’t do it sooner, maybe things would’ve turned out differently.” He appears solemn and looks away.

  Gary places a hand on his shoulder. “You did all you could, and you did it well. Look how many you saved.”

  “Yeah. Yeah.” He sighs. “What a mess.”

  Gary says nothing, just nods.

  “We best be off,” Nathan says, walking away.

  Michael strides toward them. “Right gentlemen. That’s it. The helicopters that came are filled and away with those too scared to move through portals, the rest are now safe within Bagotville base. Time for you two to go. This day needs putting behind us all.”

  Gary holds out a hand. “Thank you, Michael. We wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for you.”

  He takes and shakes it, smiling, nothing more than a courtesy as he doesn’t feel like being jovial anymore today. “Think nothing of it Gary. Besides, I have a feeling we will need you people more than ever in the weeks to come. Judas was right about one thing, a terrible war is on the way and it will need us all to defeat the evil that it brings.”

  Gary tries to smile but he is too tired, too weak, and too sad. He just nods.

  Michael opens a portal. “Off you go, gents. I need to speak with some very important people.” He glances up.

  Gary and Nathan both raise a hand to him and step through.

  Fifty-Five

  The once proud and beautiful Vatican City is in ruins, destroyed beyond all recognition. Plumes of smoke rise from the outlying areas unfortunate enough to be caught up in the blast unleashed by Judas. Fires rage out of control, burning entire neighborhoods. Screams spike out into the night from demons and people alike, those unfortunate souls who had managed to evade the terrors and take shelter, surviving however they could. Where St Peter’s square and the Basilica once were now smolders a gigantic crater, glowing orange at the rim as stone liquefies from the intense heat created from the event.

  At the edge of the crater, a dark portal rips open and dirt showers to the ground. From out of it steps War, followed by Death. Dusting himself off he looks around at the dev
astation and then at his brother. “She now possesses the knowledge so there is only one place they will go.”

  Death says nothing. He follows War into a fresh portal that he has created.

  ***

  Malphas rides the circular elevator up to Lucifer’s chamber. His face is a mixture of anger and concern at having failed to complete his mission to recover The Book and Seal. Lucifer’s second-in-command he may be, but that does not stop him from feeling afraid at what his Master may do to him upon learning of his lack of success.

  The lift stops and he looks around the chamber, filled with demons, more than usual, all silent and all staring at him. How dare they, he thinks to himself. How dare they eye me in such a way, with their derision. I will make them pay when this is over.

  Lucifer’s booming voice draws his attention back to his front.

  “Malphas. Brother. What news have you of that which I seek?”

  He stands up straight and gathers himself, then walks forward, glancing from side to side at the room’s occupants, defiance across his face, reminding them of the position he holds above them all. He stops in front of the throne and bows. “My Lord. I am sorry to report that things did not go as planned.”

  Lucifer grins. “The Book? The Seal?”

  Malphas sighs. “They are no more, my Lord. The Light has absorbed them. They are part of her now.”

  Lucifer laughs. One that climbs in pitch and madness. “Oh my brother, this is wonderful news! Wonderful!”

  Malphas frowns. He looks behind as the entire room joins Lucifer in obsequious laughter although he knows that they are laughing for no reason – they know less than he does, which is nothing right now. He turns back toward his Master. “I do not understand, my Lord. Why do you laugh?”

  He stands, rising from his giant throne and walks down the steps leading up to it. Upon reaching Malphas he places his hands upon his shoulders. “Because there is only one place that they can go now if they intend to unlock its power and try to defeat me. Soon enough they will figure it out, and when that happens we will be ready.” He smiles at Malphas and then laughs one more. And this time Malphas joins him.

  Below

  The portal splits open and they fall from it, crashing into the grassy ground. Charlotte has just enough time to pull Judas out of the way before stone and rock crashes down after them. Rolling onto her back and breathing heavy, she remains that way for a short time then shifts onto her side and checks his condition. It doesn’t look good. Blood continues to pour out from his chest and sides as his self-healing process still hasn’t kicked in. “No-no-no,” she says, frantic, pressing her hands to the wounds. “Why are you not healing?” Her eyes dart from side to side, desperate to find a way to help. Without thinking, she reaches down to his sword and grabs it. “You,” she says, holding it up to her, “appear now.”

  The sword spins out of her hand through the air and Azazel manifests in front of her.

  His eyes narrow as he looks at her, confusion raging within them. “How? How did you do that? How did you call me forth?”

  “I don’t know,” she says, her eyes blurring with tears. “Help me. He’s dying. Why is he not healing?”

  Azazel shakes off his confusion and moves toward her. “It must be Famine, within him, slowing the process. I cannot help him. But you can. You have it now – it runs through you. You have as much power as you are likely to ever have. I can feel it oozing from you, I can smell it all over you.”

  She wipes her eyes and looks down, searching for the solution. Her head snaps up and she looks at him. “The Horseman. He said that he had the ability to kill and then revive me, at will. So I must have it. I have that ability now.”

  “Yes, YES. You have it. So heal him. Bring him back and then we can do what needs to be done.”

  She regards Azazel for a few moments and then turns back to the unconscious Judas. Holding up her hands and looking at them, she closes her eyes. Please, please, she says to herself and then takes a deep breath. Focusing her energy, she digs deep within, trying to find the smallest spark of Divinity. Something, anything to get this thing going. Her eyes clench tighter as she tries harder to see it, to bring it forth from herself. She breathes out hard. “I can’t,” she says, tears in her eyes.

  “You must,” Azazel insists.

  She tries again, repeating the process, looking deep inside her own mind. Her memories speed by, one after another, delightful and troublesome alike. She sees it all. Him rescuing her. Her defeating Lucifer. His return to Earth as an angel following his death. Them making supper together and then laughing as they wash up, splashing water at one another. She sees him comfort her as she is taken into hospital, her leg broken, and many more as they zoom through her mind. Then, she stops at one to inspect it closer – it is of her as a little girl, lying in his arms as he tells her he will always be there for her, that he will always look out for her. She looks up into his face and says, “Then I will become strong, and look after you.” She repeats the words as the memory fades and moves away.

  “Then I will become strong, and look after you,” she says again, her eyes still closed. She takes a deep breath and clenches her hands tight and then opens them. “I will become strong, and look after you,” she says once more and deep within her, a small burst of Divinity sparks into life, tiny at first, whirling and spinning within, then growing stronger, brighter, bigger. As it grows, a darker patch of energy attaches itself to it and it builds within her, raging and boiling. She snaps open her eyes and they burn a fierce gold with a new level of Divinity spilling from her. Her hands burst into light. She opens them and placing them over Judas, sends a beam of energy into him. She forces her hands down as the light crackles and fizzes and, as they touch his chest, he sits bolt upright, drawing in a sharp breath. She pulls her hands back and the energy leaves a trail as it follows them, lighting up the night. Then as fast as it appeared it is gone and the darkness is restored.

  He turns toward her and laughs through a coughing fit. Grabbing the back of her head he pulls her close to him, resting his forehead against hers.

  They say nothing – nothing at all. They just remain that way, thankful that each is still alive.

  After a while he moves his head away and gets to his feet. Taking a few deep breaths and steadying himself he looks at her. “This time you did get to save me from death.” He smiles.

  She purses her lips together into a smile of her own, tears welling up in her eyes, and looks down. “Yeah, well, I’m not a child anymore.” She wipes the tears away. “Got mad skills ’n that.”

  He laughs. “That you do, sweetie. In spades.” His attention turns to Azazel, who greets him with a slow handclap.

  “Well. Wasn’t that fun?”

  He shakes his head. “Fun? Is that what you call it?”

  Azazel smiles and holds his hands out to his side, taking a few steps to his left at the same time, almost as though he were dancing. “Well, we are all still here and much wiser for the experience. Speaking of which, what’s our next move?”

  Judas looks around. He frowns. “Why are we here? Why Stonehenge?” He says, motioning to the monoliths as they stand in the center of the monument.

  “I brought us here,” she replies, standing and walking up to the side of him. “Our options are limited and this is where we need to be.”

  “No. Where we need to be is in the White Kingdom. We need to get you there ASAP.”

  She reaches out and grabs his arm as he prepares to open a portal. “We can’t. It’s too late. We only have one option now.”

  “What are you talking about? What do you mean?” He frowns.

  “Within me resides the Horseman I defeated. Pestilence is a part of me, for now at least. His knowledge has become my knowledge and it far outweighs what information you absorbed from Barachiel. I am the key, dad. Me. The Book and the Seal are me – they have become me.”

  He shakes his head. “What are you saying?”

  She smiles a little.
“I am the Relic, dad. I am. And there is only one place I can go now to stop what is happening. I must go to the Temple of Belial and release the energy there. Then we can end this nightmare once and for all.”

  “What?” he says, grabbing hold of her. “Do you know what you’re saying?”

  She smiles at him. “Yes.”

  “You know where the Temple of Belial is?”

  “Yes.”

  “She’s right, Judas. It is the only way now,” Azazel says softly.

  He turns around, his face as fierce as thunder. “You. Shut your mouth. Shut your fucking mouth right now.”

  “Judas, you know it to be true,” Azazel continues, stepping toward him, “she cannot go to the White Kingdom like this, it won’t work anymore. She must go to the place that it came from – from the heart of God’s hate and anger. That is the only place that it can be opened, the only place that it can be cleansed. You know it to be true, Iscariot. You do.”

  Judas looks at her, sighs, and closes his eyes. He huffs and groans then walks away. “So this is why you have brought us to Stonehenge?”

  She walks after him. “It is one of only two remaining gates shown to me by the Horseman. I’m sorry, dad. Azazel is right – there is no other way.”

  He shakes his head and turns to Azazel. “And I suppose you can open the path I take it?”

  Tight lipped, he closes his eyes for a moment, and nods.

  “What a fucking surprise,” Judas says, walking away, scorn in his eyes. He stops and places his hands upon his head and looks down, then shakes it. “Agggh. Fuck. FUCK, FUCK!” he says, kicking the ground. “Not there. Anywhere but there.”