by Matt Drabble
He found Lucifer and McCullum waiting for him outside leaning against the stolen van, she was stroking the detective’s face like a love struck teenager, Baine found the whole scene uncomfortable. McCullum had been a police officer of excellent standing according to his sources, unpopular but well respected; he was an intelligent detective and a physically impressive man who now had the same personality as a newborn puppy.
“Are we ready?” he interrupted them
“No, but what choice do we have” Lucifer replied, “Just know that if you cross me it will be the last action that you ever undertake”
“Warnings go both ways” Baine replied coldly as he entered the van, “And I’m driving, load your pet in the back, and if he makes a mess you’re cleaning it up” he did not need to see her face to know that the barb landed.
The morning air was cold and savage scrapping exposed flesh with cruel fingers, the mist hung heavily across the open fields thickly blanketing the ground and hiding what lay beneath. The ancient structure of Pentre Ifan stood proudly dominating its surroundings, drawing the eye and making hairs stand involuntarily on end. The burial chamber was only accessible via long and difficult lanes ending with a thorny hike which deterred all but the most resolute. Today as the sun broke slowly through the weighty weather the air crackled with anticipation and menace, the varied wildlife had already retreated leaving the area silent and desolate. A car engine punctured the eerie stillness as it approached from a quarter of a mile away, the throaty diesel engine powered over the rough terrain as it grew steadily closer. Fog lights strained to penetrate the poor visibility and wheels span struggling to gain purchase over the scarred and pitted lane.
Baine eventually shuddered to a premature halt when he realised that they couldn’t get any closer by vehicle, he pulled the car over and rolled to a stop amidst the thick and undisturbed undergrowth. He had approached the stone formation from a different direction than that of the usual tourist route, his sense of direction had always been immaculate but the sheer magnetism of Pentre Ifan would pull him across a darkened world blindfolded. The structure sat in the middle of a flat landscape making it impossible to approach with any measure of stealth once you were in the open, his present position was still some distance away but at least afforded him the ability to observe the countryside undetected. The stones appeared to be unoccupied but he couldn’t be entirely sure, it was surely still too early for the tourist hoards to begin descending and whatever lay ahead for him now would unquestionably require a degree of seclusion. Baine motioned to Lucifer, left the comfort of their anonymous surroundings and ventured out into the open, as they walked toward the stone formation his feet began to drag as he approached, his heart thumped hard against his chest and his forehead felt hot and sweaty. What stood in front of them was the end of his journey and almost definitely the very end of this version of himself, he felt as though everything that he wanted was finally within his grasp only to question just what it was that he truly wanted. His head was still spinning with everything that had happened in the last few weeks; a large part of him greatly wished to retreat back into a cocooned shell of others decisions, to return to a state of familiarity and safety, but as slow as his feet wanted to move, they still moved forward, he closed his eyes and thought of his dancer. She was still his reason, he had no idea of a life without confining boundaries and the very thought excited and terrified him in equal measures, but he knew in his newly formed heart that he just had to try, his new emotions were hard to fathom and difficult to control but he recognised their power and knew but two things, love was a carnivorous animal and it was always hungry.
Gabriel stood in silent observation, arms hung inactively limp behind his back and hands clasped; the moment was serene and undisturbed. The half breed still stumbled blindly along his path, arrogant in his supposed freedom, Gabriel was dimly aware that he was now lost to his own corrupted flesh, trapped in his warped mind that was already losing its ability to see beyond his limited human horizon and Lucifer had also become lost to this stinking world. Like Gabriel she too had become imprisoned within her own burgeoning humanity. All of their petty squabbling and scheming were pathetic in the extreme, whilst the 11th Order and The Grigori had constantly battled to obtain the Cube and with it the power to reshape the world as they saw fit, Gabriel had kept his own plans a beautiful secret. He would take the Cube back to its origins and lay it at the feet of God himself and with this gesture he would once again be welcomed back into his kingdom and into his embrace, he shuddered involuntarily at the very prospect. Now, finally, after eons of time he was finally close, close to return to his graces and the chance to ascend the stars and shine brighter than ever before, their return would be triumphant, he would climb the heavens on the bones of the others and the slaughter of the 11th Order and the Grigori would add a mighty weight to their offering.
Baine worked his way alone and sure-footedly towards the ancient stone structure as best he could despite the lack of cover between him and his target. The last thirty feet were all in the open, devoid of any protection from the natural surroundings Baine stepped out into the light, breaking from his own shadows he began to ascend to his summit as carefully and silently as he could manage.
“You sound like a wild boar charging through the long grass Baine” Gabriel’s voice was scornfully heavy and echoed down the hill.
Baine looked up to see the archangel step from behind the standing stones in typically theatrical fashion; upon a second look he could see that Gabriel seemed different somehow. On their first meeting he had appeared brightly serene; he had floated around his Cardiff apartment as though he wore a human suit that struggled to contain his own majesty, now however he seemed lessened, more real as though he was heavier weighed down by humanity and more anchored to this earthy realm. Baine ran through his internal monologue of smartass remarks but decided against attempting some Hollywood movie quip that would have sounded empty and false in the real world, instead he started to run. He fixed his eyes on Gabriel’s face; the archangel seemed to be smiling in a strange manner that did not reach his oddly glazed eyes.
“Easy child” Gabriel’s voice resonated down the mound, something in it stopped Baine dead, he could sense that Gabriel was eager for a physical confrontation and he was more than willing to accommodate him despite being outmatched, but Gabriel was holding onto something obscured by one of the giant stones.
“I have something for you Baine, a gift if you will; I choose to release you from your burdens and set you free” Gabriel’s voice burned with fervour.
Baine already feared the worst, he edged around to his left to gain a better view of just what Gabriel was holding, it was a slender wrist that ran down a slim feminine arm attached to a slumped woman. Gabriel dragged her lifeless form across the sodden ground approaching the ancient structure leaving a wet crimson stain upon the grass. Her head was bowed but Baine did not need to see her face as he knew every inch of her tender figure by heart as she had danced through his mind a million times, despite the stench of death emanating from his fallen love and his own probable demise, he ran.
Lucifer watched the drama unfold amidst the gothic surroundings; she and McCullum had hidden away at a safe distance and were now viewing from an ensconced position through procured binoculars. The ground was wet and bitterly cold; Lucifer lay upon a tartan travel blanket taken from the guesthouse. McCullum had regressed into a child like state, his eyes were glassy and distant, a hazy smile fixed his face in a grotesque parody of happiness, she cast a sideways glance at him, he laid stomach flat on the drenched earth oblivious to the discomfort, soon she would awake him.
Baine’s knees buckled and he sank heavily as his heart submerged deep into his chest, he cradled her head in his lap and stroked her matted hair for the first and last time. Somewhere off in the distance he could hear the faint drone of Gabriel’s voice standing a safe distance away and preaching, but he had no inclination to listen. His salvation had been ta
ken in a single cruel stroke of a maniac’s hand, during his short enlightening journey she had been his tenuous fingertip grasp on the bottom rung of humanity. A single tear leaked lonely from his left eye and began a solitary trek sliding down his cheek, he pushed out his tongue to meet it and was puzzled by the salty taste. Baine carefully rearranged his dancer’s clothes, smoothing the creased garments and gently pulling down her rucked up skirt, he softly laid her head upon the damp grass and folded her arms tenderly across her chest. He now realised that he had no knowledge of love but had surprisingly held a quiet comprehension of the powerful notion, he had never known her name but she had been his reason. Baine stood and faced Gabriel for the first time, whatever lay across his face stopped the angel dead, Baine had no taste left for conversation and walked slowly forward.
“Are you really that ungrateful?” Gabriel roared astounded at the sheer impudence, “You are but a speck of dust in the presence of a God, you should sink to your knees in death before me insect” his face contorted with uncontrollable fury.
Baine walked forward
“I seek to set you free, to shatter the shackles that would chain you to this earth as HE would seek” he jabbed a claw like finger skyward to indicate to whom he was referring.
Baine walked forward.
“I deem to speak to the filth beneath my feet and I meet nothing but ignorance”
Spittle now flew from Gabriel’s enraged lips as Baine walked forward, for the first time noticing the mad glean in the angel’s eyes.
Gabriel suddenly stopped, terrified at once again losing his self control at the worst possible time, Archangels were a serene race only their descent onto the mortal plane had upset this equilibrium and his personal deterioration had been accelerating as of late. These worrying plunges into confused rants and rages were becoming more and more frequent and the worst part was that his intellect would temporarily shut down halting all rational thought. At a time when he needed his clearest head in order to finally obtain the ultimate prize he was tumbling off course and in danger of throwing a meticulously constructed plan that had taken centuries to perfect into chaos. It was with some surprise that he looked down to see a hand clamped around his throat, it took a few more breath sapping moments for his own physical safety to register, despite his immense power upon arrival on this planet, oceans of time had eroded away his superiority. The world began to fade as the strength of Baine’s hands forged with undeniable vengeance began to crush his throat, he looked up into the eyes of his pawn marvelling at the cold blackness as he fell forward into their welcoming shadows, he was strangely intrigued by the sensation of death’s stealthy approach.
Baine squeezed mercilessly, his raging torrent of anger replaced by a cold calm, Gabriel’s eyes, once screaming with bright vitality, began to dim, Baine closed his eyes and savoured the execution. Suddenly he was aware of danger from somewhere and found himself suddenly and painfully airborne, he opened his eyes and looked back towards the impact zone as he cartwheeled through the air before crashing heavily into the ancient stone standings coming to rest in a sitting position with his back against the structure. His head had struck hard against the unforgiving surface, blood swam instantly into his eyes blurring his vision, his left shoulder shattered rendering it useless, he raised his right arm slowly to his scalp feeling it soft and spongy under his wet fingers. Through the red mist haze he looked back to see Gabriel on one knee with a hand slowly massaging life back into a swollen throat, the distance between them had been at least twenty metres but as Baine pushed himself groggily up from the floor, one leg at a time, he raised his head, senses swimming, only to find Gabriel’s demonic face suddenly level with his. Baine tried to stand, tried to fight for her but he could only hang limply before his fate, his feet trembled beneath him uncooperatively and his legs wobbled, refusing to support his weight, he could offer little resistance save for the faint remnants of anger in a fading glare. Gabriel snatched out an iron hand grabbing Baine by the throat and lifting him effortlessly, the power from his grip was excruciating and Baine felt his jaw bone splinter and what was himself, began to fade, his eyelids drooped and the world became a blinding light that burned. Then she was there, a beautifully soft and perfect out-stretched hand reached for him, he strained desperately to find her, groping in the light, the pain was fading now, falling behind in the muddy confusions of life and death upon the earthly plane. He fumbled frantically for her touch, certain in the knowledge that just a fingers brush would sustain him during a dark eternity of damnation.
Lucifer had waited for the perfect opportunity to strike; she knew that Gabriel had to perish at his own hand for them to take the cube. When she had watched Gabriel’s mad ravings and the half breed walk casually forward and seize her once great, once leader, she paused until she could be absolutely sure his approach would not be noticed. Baine was choking the very life from Gabriel as Gabriel ranted hysterically, Lucifer was fascinated to see the grand Archangel who had once served at Gods feet, set above all of the rest his kind, now reduced to being throttled by some half breed. Then at what must have been the last possible moment Gabriel’s arms reached out to the sides and his hands upturned, the air around him exploded flinging him backwards in a radiant burst away from danger. Whilst it was true that their powers had waned over the years as they became worryingly more and more affected by humanity, they were still far stronger and faster than their human or even half human counterparts. Baine was half angel but he was also half human and now very preoccupied with the task of spinning out of control through the air. Lucifer did not know who the dead woman was that Gabriel had flung towards Baine but she immediately recognised that their plan was about to become null and void as all humanity drained from Baine’s face and he began walking towards Gabriel. She flew across the distance with hands upturned out in front of her covering it rapidly building the tension between her and her target summoning the once empty vapid air and turning it into a solid force thrusting it forward. The invisible energy striking the now kneeling Gabriel as hard as she could muster and she was satisfied to see the angel cart-wheeling through the air before hammering into the ancient ground, landing hard and lying still. Lucifer stumbled across the battlefield knowing that she had used the very last scrapings of her other worldly abilities. She surveyed the fallen scene, Baine was slowly stirring, time was short and not to be wasted,
“You fool”, she whispered close to his ear, the half breed looked to her face and she took an involuntary step backwards, his face simply scared her, here was the monster. “What did I tell you” she heard an unpleasant pleading tone in her voice, “He will end us all, you can’t kill him yet only us”
“LUCIFER” her name boomed from the rising grand Archangel, “You would side with this filth” he raged “You would stand against your brothers, against me child” Gabriel was now fully erect, the air between them sparked and crackled, the wind howled around them flinging up earth and debris in a spinning tornado that encircled the ancient stone structure and grew rapidly in strength. Suddenly a flash of movement quicker than Gabriel could turn hit him full speed from behind, McCullum came through the swirling winds wielding a lethal blade in both hands above his head before plunging it full force and wordlessly into Gabriel’s back. The Archangel staggered forward and fell to his knees, his face drawn and pale as the life force ebbed from the wound. Baine struggled to his feet and moved towards Gabriel,
“No, not yet” Lucifer grabbed hold of his arm and pulled him backwards, “He’s not weak enough yet”
As if to prove the point Gabriel was already rising,
“I am older than this world, did you really think that usurping me would be that easy Lucifer, did you really believe that you could stand for even a second in my shoes” Gabriel raised his head to the heavens and roared.
Suddenly they felt a strange distancing from their surroundings, the floor felt real but the sky above them darkened, the fields around them faded and retreated, the clouds above t
hem opened and thick snow fell dumping great heavy flakes that blurred their vision. This new world was about a quarter mile wide in circumference, the green fields beyond this boundary were untouched although a little distant as though they no longer belonged. The land began to swirl as if struggling to focus, Baine, Lucifer and McCullum stood back to back, suddenly they were all aware that they were not alone, shadows and shapes slipped and slithered, moved and formed large solid masses.
“LOOK”, Lucifer screamed above the wind and noise, she pointed to Gabriel, he was shaking and still screaming, his whole body looked wracked with pain and inconceivable effort, blood still seeped from his knife wound that would not close, “Almost” she shouted in Baine’s ear.
The world around them was no longer their own and they no longer belonged in it, the heavy snow fell choking the light from the sky, the dark shapes began to ascend the hill towards them black and hungry. Lucifer could only make out a few of the figures, monsters and demons crawled and fought each other, snapping and slashing with lethal teeth and claws. These were the worst of the worst, the damned souls of purgatory driven mad by eons of isolation, their flesh scorched and torn from self-abuse. These creatures were once angels who were expunged to the vast soulless empty plains, the armies of heaven had never used them before, they were always considered to be the ultimate nuclear deterrent. Gabriel had summoned them now using every ounce of his power, Lucifer had been sure that if they made him mad enough, if they caused enough injuries if they broke through the last vestiges of his serenity it would render him vulnerable enough to finish him for good. Now all she needed to do was to allow Baine enough time to finish this, but that meant taking on the un-holy hoard that approached and to stay alive. She looked to her detective, his eyes were steady but distant, she stood on tip-toes and kissed him fully on the mouth, hard and strong, his eyes cleared, his arms grew strength as they encircled her waist and pulled her close. She stood back from him and drew her knife the wicked blade glistened eager for purpose, McCullum followed suit, she took his hand and they turned together to face the incoming.