Sixth Seal

by Thornbrugh, Josh

  She rolled her eyes as she took hold of the ladder and pulled herself up. Most of the windows on this side of the building were dark. She imagined many of the tenants decided to stay the night elsewhere given recent events.

  Frederick followed close behind. They were at the third floor when he tugged on her coat. She slid to the side, giving him room to work. The window in front of them was dimly lit, affording a glimpse of a long hallway. She could almost make out the numbers on the smooth, lacquered doors. Using a putty knife that he’d pulled from his pocket, Frederick broke the seal on the sill and deftly slid the window open. Unlike the fire escape ladder, the window made little noise.

  The wooden floor amplified their footsteps. Frederick moved ahead of her, walking toward a door at the opposite end of the hall. He turned to her and held a finger to his lips as he slowly pushed open the door.

  “I’m going to go down to the next floor and scope it out. If I run into any trouble, I’ll shout and—“

  “And I’ll come help you out.”

  He gave her a mock frown. “No. You’ll go back the way we came and get to safety.”

  She nodded although she had no intention of leaving him alone. Apparently satisfied, he vanished into the stairwell. The shoes he was wearing were better suited for stealth. Even though she had her ear pressed to the door, she couldn’t hear his footsteps.

  Several minutes passed without a sound. Ana’s mind paraded a menagerie of terrifying possibilities in front of her. What if her father had been ambushed? It was possible that someone could take him by surprise and prevent him from warning her. She had already decided to check on him when she heard footsteps in the stairwell; only they seemed louder than they should have. In a flash she pulled the SIG from her waist, stepped back and took aim. The door swung open.

  “Holy shit!” Frederick ducked. He rose cautiously when he saw her lower the gun. “Put that away.”

  “Sorry. It’s just that it didn’t sound like you coming up the stairs.” She tucked the gun back into the waist of her leather pants. “Why were you making so much noise?”

  “There’s nobody on the second floor. At least there doesn’t seem to be.”

  “No police?”

  He shook his head. “Nope. Just some police tape across the doorframe. Come on, I’ll show you.”

  The stairwell opened onto the second floor, which looked nearly identical to the third, with the exception of the empty space where the door had been on apartment 209. Two crisscrossed lines of yellow tape were stretched across the frame. It looked as though the door had been kicked in. Had Doctor Gabriel done that on his return visit?

  Frederick pulled the tape down and stepped inside. He was inspecting a scorch mark that ran up the wall when she entered the apartment. “What do you make of this?”

  Following the blackened path down the wall and across the floor, she knew her booby trap had worked. “Whoever touched the Eye of Jupiter got the shock of their life.”

  “And judging by the tape outline on the floor, it killed them.” He bent down in front of the scorched wall.

  “No that’s probably where the poor woman Doctor Gabriel killed fe—“

  “What is it?”

  Another partial tape outline protruded from the other side of a large sofa. Ana walked closer until she could see the spot where the woman in her horrible vision had fallen. For the first time, she noticed the blood spatter on the wall. “He killed her.”

  “So, who do you suppose belongs to this outline?”

  “I can only hope it’s Doctor Gabriel.”

  He scanned the room. “Where’s the Eye?”

  “In the clock.” She pointed across the room atop a black, lacquered mantle. There in the center sat an ornate wooden clock, its door ajar, revealing a sliver of the exotic orb. Frederick walked toward it. “Don’t touch it!”

  He stopped midway. “Why not?”

  “My trap is still active.”

  “I should have realized that. I don’t know why I thought it was a one shot thing.” He chuckled. “It’s good to see my girl is always prepared.”

  “I do what I can.” She moved to the clock and pulled the door back farther. The workings were all contained in the door, so that when it was closed, the Eye would just look like the face. Whoever had placed it in the clock meant to keep it hidden. She smiled to herself. Apparently the ruse had worked, at least for half a century.

  The faint hum of the clear orb drifted to her ears. The electricity was palpable. She knew the Eye would carry out the deadly sequence if she failed to deactivate it before she picked it up.

  “Protectorate digamma adstat coram vobis. Respondere.”

  This time the voice that responded did so aloud. It was strained and oddly modulated as though it struggled to speak. “Pe…ricu…lum.”

  “Danger?”

  The word seemed to get Frederick’s attention. He stared intently at the orb. “Danger? What kind of danger is it referring to?”

  Ana furrowed her brow. “Most likely it’s reminding me of the trap I set.”

  The eerie voice repeated the phrase, louder and with more force. “Periculum. Periculum.”

  “Digamma imperat desinam munus fulgur. Respondere.” The center of the Eye pulsed once with a bright flash of red light before settling back to its original clear state.

  Again the strange voice responded. “Sicut dicitur.” The air crackled, and the electricity she noticed when they first entered the room dissipated. “Periculum, digamma. Periculum.”

  “Why is it still saying that? Didn’t you disable the trap?” Frederick wrung his hands and glanced around the room.

  “I’m not sure. She seems to be under some kind of duress, but the trap has definitely been deactivated.” She looked in his eyes. “Didn’t you feel the electricity in the air?”

  He nodded. “Yes, but something just doesn’t feel right. Hurry up and grab the Eye and let’s get the hell out of here.”

  A sickening feeling hit her in the gut and a tortured voice rattled through her head…danger…danger…danger. She staggered and fell into the mantle, nearly knocking the clock from its perch.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Yes, but there is definitely something wrong.” She swallowed hard, forced herself to stand upright, and then took the Eye from its hiding place. The voice in her head was panicked. Everything in her being told her to flee.

  Frederick must have seen it in her face. He pulled a pistol from his jacket and started for the door.

  A shadow that extended from the sofa moved. There was something about the shadows in the room that didn’t seem right to Ana. As if part of a chain reaction, the other shadows twitched, pulsated and writhed to life. The one nearest the sofa wrapped midnight tendrils around Frederick’s leg and pulled him down to the floor.

  “What the hell?” He fired several rounds into the darkness before another shadowy arm rose up and grabbed his wrist. It constricted until the gun fell from his grasp.

  Ana reached out to the Eye, but all it offered in reply was its repeated warning. She tucked the orb under her arm and pulled the SIG from her waist, although she wasn’t sure how effective it would be against this new threat. She shot at the dark appendage holding Frederick to the floor, but the bullets just passed through it like a stone in a pond.

  “Run, Ana!” Her father struggled against his ghostly captors. “Get the hell out of here!”

  “I can’t leave you.”

  He gasped and sputtered, flailing his free arm. “You must. You’re too important.”

  Shadows traveled across the floor from the mantle, snaking their way towards her. She leapt over the first and doubled back for the door. The ceiling was almost completely black now, and dark inky lines poured down the walls. They stretched across the doorframe blocking her escape. She shot wildly into the mass, emptying her gun. Nothing.

  “The window.” Her father flailed again, pointing toward
the other side of the room.

  Another tendril raced across the floor. Again she jumped over it and darted for the window. She froze when three pillars of black smoke erupted from the floor in front of her. They grew in size and solidity, taking on ghastly shapes.

  “Don’t run off just yet little Ana Eloise.” Martin’s voice escaped from his still forming face.

  One by one the three Horsemen materialized before her, the obsidian smoke still swirling where their pupils should have been. Martin stood in the center flanked by the malevolence that was Verner, and the visage of death she knew to be Flins. She struggled to move, but the shadowy tendrils that had her father, now held her firmly in place.

  Martin smiled a not particularly pleasant smile. “I see you’ve turned off your clever little trap. Rather unfortunate that Gabriel had to die, but that’s why we kept him around.” The laugh that followed sickened her. “Now, child, you will give the Eye of Jupiter to me.”

  Digamma

  Years of study and relentless pursuit had all led to this. Failure. Even without her help the Doctor would eventually find what he was after. She knew, as did the others, that although the book’s true power couldn’t be unleashed without breaking the seven seals, a devastating amount of energy could be channeled through the Eye of Jupiter. That kind of raw power in the hands of the Nazis would turn the course of the war in Germany’s favor. Heaven help mankind.

  She wished the Doctor were here. He was the only one who could stop Henryk from killing her. She pulled again against her restraints, staring the Lieutenant in the eyes. Defiant. Even at the feet of death she continued her work, as a protector was born to do. Every detail, every face, the smoke in the air, all committed to memory in hopes of passing on as much to her successor as possible.

  Jacques stirred. “Damn you to hell! You murderers. You rapists. You will pay for what you have done to my country.”

  The smirk that played across Niklas’ face spoke of contempt. He raised his gun and took aim at Jacques. Hannah closed her eyes. This was a memory she didn’t want.

  The shot echoed through the space followed by a clattering on the hard ground.

  “Are you all right, Miss Klein?”

  It wasn’t the question that puzzled her; rather it was who was asking it. She opened her eyes. Henryk was holstering his pistol. He bent down and rolled the lifeless body of Niklas over. A line of blood leaked from a single hole in the young man’s forehead. She tried to form words, but found herself unable.

  “I’m sorry this happened, but I couldn’t reveal myself until I was certain.” Henryk pulled a knife from beneath his coat and stepped behind Hannah.

  Before she could flinch, he had cut the ropes. She rubbed at her raw wrists, and then catching a stir of movement, turned her attention to Jacques.

  Henryk put a hand on her shoulder. “Here, take the knife and release your friend.”

  The ropes binding Jacques were tight and her progress was slow due to her trembling hands. From the look on Jacques’ face, he was still having difficulty understanding what had just happened.

  A harsh rumbling from somewhere outside caught Henryk’s ear. He tilted his head and put up a finger, signaling both of them to keep quiet. “There isn’t much time to explain.”

  “Do your best,” said Jacques, pulling himself off the ground with a little help from Hannah.

  “I’m with the Polish Resistance. I speak German quite well and with a passable accent, so I decided to see if I could infiltrate the SS. Originally, I did quick runs, posing as an officer in Warsaw and helping as many Jewish families as I could escape.”

  Jacques wiped some of the blood from his mouth. “What brought you to France?”

  “Miss Klein.”

  “Me? Why on Earth would you follow me to France?”

  “The book. It must be kept out of such dangerous hands.”

  “You know of the book?” Hannah furrowed her brow, a barrage of questions forming in her mind.

  “Yes, I am a gatherer…and you are a protector.”

  “You’re a gatherer? Then surely you must have known I was a protector all along.”

  “Indeed, but I wasn’t sure which side you were on. There are protectors working inside the Nazi party.”

  “Who?”

  “I do not know the individuals, but they are known as the Horsemen. Doctor Altman is an agent of theirs.”

  Hannah shook her head. “That can’t be. The Doctor is a good man, he’s just being used unwittingly.”

  “I do not think so, but we haven’t time to argue. A detail will arrive soon to inspect the commotion. I’ll have to feed them a plausible story and it would be best if he was gone.” Henryk motioned toward Jacques.

  “Where do you expect me to go? There’s a troop truck on the way, and two of my best men are dead.”

  “I’m sorry about that. I’m sure they were fine men, but we have all lost friends and there is work to be done yet. I’ve made arrangements for the Bishop to meet you at a spot a mile outside of the city…by the river. Do you know the place?”

  Jacques nodded. “Yes. I have met him there before.”

  “Good. Go there now as quickly as you can. Three of my men…” He paused, studying Jacques’ face. “Don’t worry, they’re Polish Resistance too. Anyway, they will be there with the Bishop and a truck. The children have all been gathered…at least as many as possible. We will meet you there this evening.”

  Hannah stepped forward. “What of the book? I need Jacques’ help to retrieve it.”

  “I will help you. Beside the men I have sent to help the children, I still have five more loyal to our cause.” Henryk bent down and picked Niklas’ gun off the floor. “Here, Jacques. Take this and go out the back. I’ll make sure no one follows you.”

  “Thank you, sir. I owe you my life.”

  “You owe me nothing, friend.”

  Jacques smiled and turned to Hannah. “I don’t pretend to understand who you are or what this book is all about, but I wish you the best.” He clasped her hands and held them to his lips before turning to go.

  ***

  The scene outside was chaotic. They had to step over the body of the young man she assumed to be Erich. Apparently Henryk had relieved him. His throat was slit, a permanent snapshot of bewilderment frozen on his face.

  Before they could reach the street, a stocky, redheaded man approached them. His green eyes held a look that Hannah thought must have come from years of combat. They were calm and steady yet attentive, taking everything in. He stopped in front of Henryk and gave him a quick salute.

  “Lieutenant Wozniak, what happened here? Are you injured, Sir?”

  Henryk waved his hand. “I’m fine Sergeant Knaf. Miss Klein was having lunch with her bodyguards and they came under fire from a couple of those damned rebel dogs.”

  “Any survivors?” He glanced at Hannah. “I mean besides Miss Klein of course.”

  “I’m afraid not. Two of our boys are dead.” Henryk paused for a moment. “We did manage to find one of their hideouts though.” Henryk took Knaf by the arm and looked him in the eye. “I think the attack was carried out by some of Jacques’ men. I want you to have your men lock this area down. Establish a six block perimeter and don’t let anyone in or out until I return.”

  Knaf clicked his heels before turning back toward his troop truck. As Hannah and Henryk walked past, he was already barking orders at his men. They jumped to attention and fanned out over the block.

  The sight of so many German soldiers rushing about made her a little nervous. Henryk seemed to pick up on her apprehension. He pointed her to his car and waved at the driver. The familiar diesel engine roared to life as Henryk opened the door for her. She jumped in, eager to leave the devastation and destruction behind.

  ***

  The driver didn’t waste any time. He took off without a word from Henryk, as though he already knew what the Lieutenant had in mind.

  Another troop truck passed them at the corne
r. Hannah counted at least twenty more men before they rumbled out of sight. Henryk turned in his seat to face her. “I’ll send even more men to the scene. It will give us a better chance with the book.”

  The expression of horror must have been evident on her face, because Henryk picked up on it immediately. “Don’t worry he’s an old friend in the Polish Resistance. We can talk candidly.”

  “So do you really think the two of us can stroll into the Capitole and just take the book? Shouldn’t we formulate a plan and enlist a little help?”

  “I’m afraid I’ve had to move things up a bit.”

  “I don’t think Doctor Altman will be able to crack the code without another linguist, and I’m sure I can stall him for at least a few days until we can get some reinforcements.”