Cataclysm (Alternate Earth Series, Book One)

by S. J. West

  “Without getting overly-technical,” he begins, “it’s a room that pulls particles of gravitational energy, called gravitons, to its exterior which prevents angels from being able to bend space. Basically, phasing is like making a mini-wormhole to travel from point A to point B. When you place a layer of gravitons across the exit of point A, it effectively blocks them from connecting to point B.”

  “Can we make one of these in my reality?” I ask, wondering why my Lucifer hasn’t already constructed one to use.

  “From what I’ve been told about the Origin, I’m afraid this type of device won’t work there,” Wayne says apologetically. “Honestly, I think this reality is the only one that has the knowledge it needs to make it work, and that’s only because of what we learned from your last visit here.”

  “What do you mean? What did we do?”

  “You gave us knowledge, a sort of point of reference, that we didn’t have before,” Wayne tells me. “After I learned that this was just an alternate reality and not the original one, I was able to use that information to estimate when this reality broke off from the Origin. I calculated it to be around the time the war in Heaven took place, which told me how far our universe is from the Origin. With that data, I was able to calculate how much energy it would take to make a graviton cage such as this. For us, the energy needed to power it is quite a lot, but within reasonable limits to make it feasible. For you guys, in the Origin, the amount of energy needed could very well be infinite because you’re reality is the only one which contains a child of an Archangel. Your universe has evolved to compensate for her existence. Fortunately, we don’t have that problem here.”

  “Yeah, we call Wayne’s theory the Martin Effect,” Josh tells me. “Since Wayne, here, was the genius who figured it all out.”

  “Why all the black marble?” I ask, looking around the room.

  “Oh, it’s not marble,” Wayne tells me. “It’s a polymer I created. It just ended up looking similar to marble after it hardened. Considering the strength angels possess, I knew we would need to coat the cell with something that could withstand them trying to punch a hole through it. Otherwise, they would just push a wall down and escape. This material is indestructible. Only the Almighty Himself could get through one of these walls.”

  I look at the barred door to the cell and ask, “How do we lock that door after we put someone inside?”

  “Thank you for reminding me about that,” Wayne says with a snap of his fingers. “I almost forgot.”

  Wayne walks over to the right interior wall. He waves is hand in front of it and a holographic screen materializes. There’s nothing on the screen except for three blue lines.

  “Security access code 3.14159265359. Wayne Robert Martin,” Wayne says. A blue light scans Wayne’s head, causing all three of the flat blue lines to come to life with peaks and valleys.

  “Security access granted,” a soft, female voice says. “How can I help you today, Dr. Martin?”

  “I am granting security access to the two people behind me,” Wayne says.

  “Please have one of them stand in front of me, Dr. Martin.”

  “Why don’t you go first, Jess?” Wayne suggests.

  “What exactly is that thing going to do to me?” I ask.

  “The security is a three-way fail safe,” Wayne explains. “It will take a reading of you retinas, your brain wave activity, and your voice. All three things have to match perfectly before it will follow any command.”

  I step in front of the screen.

  “Please state your name,” the computer says.

  “Jessica Michelle Riley,” I reply.

  The same blue light scans my head, and I watch as the three blue lines on the screen fluctuate.

  “Thank you, Jessica.”

  “And that’s it,” Wayne tells me. “I’m the only one who has full access to the security system, but this will allow you to unlock the door whenever you need to. Ok, Josh, your turn.”

  After Josh is through, I thank Wayne for all his help and leave them to finish their work on the prison cell. I feel slightly disappointed that we can’t make one of them in our own reality, but, then again, if we can’t make it, neither can Lucifer.

  I know it’s probably foolish to be worried about his welfare in this reality, but considering what Ravan told me, the princes here are torturing him in one of the graviton cages they have. He and I may have had our differences over the past few years, but I didn’t like the idea of him being at the mercy of Lucian and his henchmen. I needed to get him back somehow, one way or the other.

  After an early supper, we wait in the library for news from Ava. Malcolm talks Brand into playing a game of chess with him. Chandler entertains us by playing music on his flute. Sometimes he serenades us with songs sung a cappella. I love listening to Chandler sing without any instrumental accompaniment. His voice is so clear and pure it holds the power to soothe my soul all on its own. Gabe twirls JoJo across the polished wood floor of the empty room beside the library as Chandler sings a love song meant just for them. Rafe and Nina sit close to one another in a corner of the room while he reads to her from the book he brought to this world. She looks content as she listens to Rafe. It’s an expression I haven’t seen her wear before, and I hope it’s not the last time I see it.

  Jered, Tristan, and Sophia are huddled together. I assume they’re talking over their strategy to reach out to Logan again. It was decided that Sophia would not be joining us to confront Lucian and his followers. Odds were that Robert would be present at the gathering, since he was part of the princes’ inner circle of Watchers. Considering Sophia’s hatred for her ex-husband, Brand asked her to bow out of this fight and help Isaiah and Baruch with the arrangements to hide Gabriel once we had him. Anger can make you lose reason, and we couldn’t afford having someone go off the rails when so much was at stake.

  Josh, Baruch, and Isaiah are in a deep discussion with Leah about the various differences in history between their reality and ours. I have never seen anyone become as excited about the subject as Leah does. I know she plans to teach history after she earns her doctorate. It’s the perfect job for her.

  I talk Zack into playing a game of gin rummy with Mason and me. I can tell he misses Faison a great deal. Even though she isn’t present, he constantly mentions her in our conversation, as if she’s simply in the next room. I’m so grateful my sister found the strength to risk her heart and experience love again. After John Austin’s death, I feared she would wall herself away from the world forever and never let herself find happiness in another man’s arms. Zack was so patient with Faison when they first started to date. He didn’t rush her. He let her work through her feelings of grief over John Austin’s loss at her own pace. In the beginning, she confided to me that she felt guilt for wanting to accept Zack’s love, but, after a while, she pushed past it, and realized it wasn’t a sin to love him.

  After an hour together, I begin to wonder if we’re wasting our time waiting on Ava, when she suddenly phases into the library.

  “You need to go to the Dome of the Rock,” Ava tells us hurriedly, providing us with a location for the meeting. From the wild-eyed look on her face, I know she has more to say. “They’re planning to open another seal.”

  “You know that for a fact?” Brand asks, quickly standing from his chair by the small table where he and Malcolm were playing chess.

  Ava nods. “Yes. Gabriel was the one who came to get Micah. I happened to overhear him tell Micah it was time to open the fourth seal.”

  I look at the clock on the mantle and see that it’s only thirteen minutes to five our time, and with the time difference that means its thirteen minutes until midnight in Jerusalem.

  “We’ve got to go now,” I say, feeling the urgency of the situation.

  Everyone grabs their weapons and we’re ready to go less than a minute later.

  “You be careful,” Gabe tells JoJo as he tugs the front of her coat together. “Stay close to Malcolm in
case something unexpected happens, and he needs to get you out fast.”

  “Do not worry about me so, mi amour,” JoJo says, cupping Gabe’s face in her hands and kissing him on the lips. “I will not be harmed.”

  “You have my word that nothing will happen to her,” Malcolm promises Gabe.

  “Then I won’t worry,” Gabe tells Malcolm. “You’ve always kept your word to me.”

  Malcolm nods once, acknowledging Gabe’s faith in him.

  “Is everyone ready?” Brand asks.

  “Where exactly will we be phasing?” Mason questions.

  “From what I could see through the phase trail,” Ava says, “they should be inside the temple itself.”

  “The temple was damaged during the earthquake when the first seal was opened,” Brand tells us. “The last time I was there, I noticed that only portions of the walls are still standing, but just barely, and it no longer has a roof.”

  “Will the place be guarded?” Mason asks.

  “I don’t think so,” Ava answers. “They don’t like to have very many people around during their meetings.”

  “God told us that since the seals are being forced open,” I say, “that they might work differently. Maybe they’re not quite sure what will happen to people who are too close.”

  “From what I know,” Ava continues, “only the princes, Will, Ravan, and their inner circle of Watchers are allowed to be at their meetings.”

  “I think we need to do a quick survey of the situation first,” Brand says, “just to make sure we know what we’re up against. Baruch and I will go scout out the location. It won’t take us long.”

  Brand is true to his word and returns only a couple of minutes later.

  “They’re all standing in a circle on the rock face, inside the temple,” Brand tells us.

  Baruch phases back.

  “Did you see anything around the perimeter that we need to be concerned about?” Brand asks him.

  “No. It was eerily vacant,” Baruch reports. “Even the dig site is empty of people.”

  “Good. Then we’ll phase near the outer perimeter of the temple,” Brand says. “Nina and Isaiah, phase everyone behind the east wall. I’ll take Malcolm and JoJo to the west wall so they can position themselves behind Gabriel, using their invisibility. I’ll give them a little while to get into place before I phase over to the rest of you. We’ll all walk into the temple together to draw their attention to us. JoJo, when you see us walk in, stab Gabriel with the dagger. Malcolm, you need to phase her to the safe house immediately afterwards. As we discussed before, Desmond will be waiting there for you, and he’ll make sure JoJo is returned here safely.”

  “And then we play hot potato?” Isaiah asks.

  “Yes,” Brand confirms. “We do what we planned earlier. We’ll use the people Sophia already has set into place and pass Gabriel around while making false phase trails to hide his true location. Just be careful. Whoever comes after him won’t be in a good mood if they happen to catch up to you. And I think we all owe JoJo a debt of gratitude for ensuring we don’t have to worry about being turned to ash by any of the princes.”

  “You are most welcome,” JoJo says cheerily. “I am just glad to be helpful.”

  “That’s as far as we can plan, I’m afraid,” Brand says. “I’m not sure what their reaction will be after we take Gabriel. Just be prepared to do whatever needs to be done.”

  “As long as we capture Gabriel,” I say, “nothing else really matters.”

  “Agreed. Is everyone ready?” Brand asks, walking over to stand between JoJo and Malcolm.

  “Let’s get this done,” I say for the group.

  Nina and Isaiah phase us all to the outside of the east wall of the temple. I soon learn for myself that Brand wasn’t exaggerating about the dilapidated state of the structure. The wall we’re concealed behind has so many cracks in it, that I’m surprised it’s still able to stay upright.

  I can faintly hear Lucian speaking inside in what’s left of the temple, but I can’t make out his words.

  After about thirty seconds, Brand phases in to join us. I take a deep breath as we all walk around the wall together to confront our enemies in this war. Everyone who is facing in our direction scowls at us. Those who have their backs to us turn around so they can face us as well.

  Just as expected, we find the seven princes of Hell, Ravan Draeke, Will, and three other Watchers present. Naturally, I recognize this world’s Jered. The black man is most likely Micah, Ava’s husband, but the last man isn’t someone I recognize from this reality or ours. His face is hawkish, with a slim nose and predatory eyes. His black hair is slicked back neatly, and he’s wearing a finely tailored blue suit with a pale yellow vest and long red tie. He has to be Robert.

  I catch a flash of silver as JoJo plunges the dagger into Gabriel’s back. Before Gabriel falls to the ground, Baruch and Isaiah phase over, grab him, and quickly phase away. Malcolm immediately phases JoJo to the safe house.

  “Asmodeus and Amon, follow them!” Lucian orders. “Get Gabriel back!”

  Asmodeus and Amon automatically do as Lucian orders. The rest of them keep their eyes on us.

  Malcolm phases back in, not too far away from where Gabriel was standing on the rock face.

  “Well, this is certainly disappointing,” Malcolm says, walking around the outer perimeter of the rock to join us on our side. “I thought there might be a bit more fanfare at the opening of a seal; at the very least some food and wine. I can’t believe all I’m seeing is a gathering of buffoons standing together on top of a rather ugly- looking rock. It almost makes me wish our Lucifer was in charge of this apocalypse. I’m sure he would at least make it more of a spectacle.”

  “Your Lucifer is a bit…tied up…at the moment,” Lucian says snidely, his eyes narrowed in on Malcolm.

  “What have you done to Gabriel?” Ravan demands, every bit the worried fiancée. If I thought she had a heart, I might actually believe her act.

  “He’s safe,” I tell her. “We’re not as bloodthirsty and cruel as the lot of you.” I turn my attention to Lucian. “Unfortunately, you no longer have his seal to open.”

  Lucian stares at me for a moment before he starts to laugh uncontrollably. As he continues to cackle in glee, his followers begin to either smile or chuckle also.

  I know this can’t mean anything good for us.

  “Oh my,” Lucian says, wiping at the tears at the corners of his eyes from laughing so hard. “Of all the princes to choose from, you thought Gabriel was the key to stopping us from opening any more of the seals? That’s…well…that’s just priceless! If I had known you were going to be this amusing, Jessica, I would have sought you out earlier.”

  I feel the cold hand of dread squeeze my heart.

  “Sought me out?” I ask, fearing we may have just stepped into a trap.

  “Micah,” Lucian says, turning his gaze from me to Ava’s husband, “I believe you have your answer now. Why don’t you go take care of that traitorous wife of yours?”

  With a grim look of acceptance, Micah nods and phases away.

  “And here I was worried about you people from the Origin,” Lucian says, sounding greatly disappointed, while shaking his head. He continues to stare directly at me. “Obviously, you’re not as powerful as your Lucifer was trying to lead us to believe. Or perhaps he was just trying to protect you, Jessica. Are the two of you lovers in your reality? I can’t imagine what else would make him so enamored of you except for maybe the magic you must possess between your legs.”

  I pull my sword from its sheath on my back, holding its flaming blade in front of me. Following my lead, my friends do the same with their own weapons.

  “Why don’t you come down here and say that again?” I challenge, feeling my temper flare at his crude suggestion.

  Lucian stares at my angelic blade warily.

  “Did my father truly imbue that sword of yours with the power to kill Archangels?” Lucian asks doubtfully. “
I have a feeling that was just another lie spouted by lover-boy. In fact, I’m willing to bet my life on it. Since you’re here, I feel as though I should provide you with some entertainment. I believe Baal has something he wants to show all of you.”

  Lucian walks over to Baal and the others follow his lead, forming a protective circle around that particular prince.

  “You see, it isn’t Gabriel who has the next seal that needs to be opened. It’s Baal. I wonder, what will happen? It’s always exciting to see if what was prophesied will actually take place. I doubt a pale horse with a rider on it will emerge from some nether realm, but I am curious to see what transpires. Aren’t you, Jessica?”

  “We’re not going to let you open that seal,” I say, tightening my grip around the hilt of my sword.

  “Oh, this should be fun. It’s been a while since I had a challenging fight,” Lucian says, calling his sword to his hand.

  Lucian’s sword is black, with a gold hilt and scrollwork along the blade. I watch as its blue-black flames ignite ominously along its edge. I know his weapon well. I’ve fought against it twice now, and I have intimate knowledge of how cold the blade actually feels when it pierces flesh.

  The other three princes of Hell call to their individual weapons as well.

  Baal holds a double-bladed staff sword with decorative silver blades on either end of an ebony rod. Belphagor’s weapon almost makes me want to laugh it looks so absurd in his hand. It’s a mace with a silver skull that has gold spikes along its center and sides. It looks ridiculous in its desperate attempt to be menacing. In contrast, Mammon’s weapons look elegant. He’s holding silver-bladed katars in each hand. The short, wide, triangular blades look razor sharp and have golden leaf-shaped handholds.

  Robert, Will, and this world’s Jered all phase out and back in with their own swords, ready to fight. I watch as Jered hands Ravan the extra sword he brought back.

  “Just in case you need it,” he tells her. “For now, I think you should stand off to the side. We’ll take care of them.”

  Ravan does as Jered suggests and walks off the rock, a safe distance away from where the action will take place.