“It won’t be better for Kingstone.”
Jeremiah’s voice dropped to a whisper. “There are angels in Kingstone.”
Matt arched an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“Two angels are stationed in Kingstone, including the one who has been giving me my directives, the archangel Raphael. I don’t know what their objective is, but no demon has ever even gotten close to Alex in the seventeen years before I met him. To my knowledge, they are still there and have been there throughout Alex’s absence. I think it’s safe.”
Matt mulled that over, then asked, “If everyone knows that, then why is Patheus still in Kansas City?”
“I don’t know,” Jeremiah confessed. “But, if he intends to do much, he’s going to come up against some serious resistance.”
“Sophie said that the town is in trouble,” added Elizabeth.
“Elizabeth, the whole world is in trouble,” Jeremiah countered. “That is what you all have been working so hard to remedy—in Las Vegas. I understand that Alex irrationally feels responsible for the safety of his hometown, but you and Matt have no reason to be there.”
“I didn’t say I was going,” Elizabeth returned.
Jeremiah snorted a laugh. “You didn’t have to. You don’t hide your emotions as well as you may think.”
“Shut up, Jeremiah.”
The demon shrugged. “Whatever. You know, I can be pretty good at predicting the future, too. And I predict that I’m going to have to stay on Earth a little longer because the people who were meant to fight in this war are going to be dead.”
Elizabeth smiled and nodded. “You don’t hide your emotions very well either. You tried very hard not to get attached. But, since Alex came, that’s been a little difficult. Hasn’t it? I daresay you even care for Matt and me. I don’t think I would have ever believed it, but it’s happened. And we risked our lives to save you. We have become more than pawns to you, and you are becoming more than a demon to us. Somehow, without us knowing, we have almost become a family. It’s dysfunctional, but we rely upon each other.
“Alex is new, and he was expected to do things none of us would have been able to pull off in such a short time. You and I have both been very cruel to him. And he never got any free shots. Every mistake he made, and every mistake we made, cost him a little bit of his humanity. Frankly, it’s a surprise he never ran to Kingstone in fear of us.
“But now, he’s become part of our family. We risked our lives to save you, and Alex deserves no less.”
“I’m honestly touched, Elizabeth,” Jeremiah said. “But you aren’t merely risking your lives. I have never known Sophie to be wrong about the future. She rarely makes predictions, but when she does, they come to pass.”
“So, there is no hope?” Matt asked.
“I’ve never seen any hard evidence of predetermination, Matt, but what she does is uncanny.”
“You’re right,” Elizabeth conceded. “But a long time ago, I came to terms with the very likely possibility that my life would end as a result of this war. If I wanted to run from that fear, I would have never decided to stay in Vegas.”
Jeremiah blinked a couple of times in confusion. “Apparently, you aren’t taking into account the enormous difference between potential death and imminent death. However, as always, this decision is completely up to you.”
Jeremiah turned to face forward, flipping his newspaper back open with a snap of his wrists. “Sophie single-handedly created a potentially avoidable future. I’ll have to figure out a way to adequately thank her for that.”
“If Patheus would have made a move on Kingstone, this would have all happened eventually,” Elizabeth replied. “And we all know he planned to. The angels won’t intervene to stop everything he does—only the things that physically hurt those they’re defending. I’ve heard enough of your stories to realize that. It isn’t enough. We need to stop everything else he’s going to do. Sophie telling us could have been the only opportunity we would have to slow his momentum.”
“I don’t think she did us a favor, Elizabeth. But, if you two must go, then I will send help as soon as I get it. Abbie and I have to remain at the mansion for a little while to muster support. Afterwards, though, we will come with everyone who will fight, provided we can’t avoid turning Kingstone into a war zone. When we get back to Las Vegas, make the necessary arrangements.”
***
The sun was beginning to set as Abbie and Salmar drove into Locura. The dusty streets and dilapidated buildings were further evidence of Abbie’s claim. This town had not been populated in quite some time. Stereotypical of most Hollywood ghost towns, she half expected to see tumbleweed rolling across the dirt road in front of them.
“Remember,” Abbie cautioned, “whether or not he decides to help us, he is going to be troublesome.”
“No doubt.”
Abbie grunted. He was taking this far too lightly. “Okay,” she said, “you talk to him, but if he tries anything dangerous, I’ll break his mind even more than it already is.”
That was when the car died.
“Well, he knows we’re here,” Abbie mumbled.
As she said that, a figure walked out into the street before them. He wore a ragged jumpsuit he’d probably taken from a dead pilot. With the exception of the top of his head, which was bald, his hair was light brown and came down below his shoulders, and he had a long, scraggly beard. His eyes were wild and shifty, but he sported a wide grin.
As Abbie and Salmar stepped out of the car, he screamed, “Welcome to my home!”
Abigail Martin locked eyes with him and, in a stern voice, announced, “If you do anything stupid, I’ll kill you.”
He snarled at her. “Bitch, I’m already dead.”
Abbie looked at him menacingly. “I will give you a whole new definition.”
“Hello, black man,” said Nathan, looking to Salmar. “This town has gotten a bad reputation for being racist. Let me be the first to prove otherwise.”
Salmar smiled warmly. “Nathan, my name is Salmar. Like you and Abbie, I am a prophet. We hoped that you could join us in Las Vegas for a meeting with some of the other Elder Prophets.”
“Alas,” Nathan replied, “there isn’t much profit to be made here. The oil dried up more than forty years ago. But you seem nice. Maybe we could find some more.”
He started walking toward them, until Abbie pointed a finger at him threateningly.
“No tricks, Nathan,” she ordered. “It would probably be better if you stayed where you are.”
A frown came over Nathan’s face as he stopped walking. “Are you with her?” he asked Salmar.
“Yes, I am, Nathan. As I was saying--”
“Have you ever fucked her?”
Refusing to become deterred by the chaos within Nathan’s mind, Salmar continued, “The forces of evil are gathering. No one is safe.”
“I tried once,” Nathan explained. “But she said things to me I’d rather not repeat in mixed company.”
“Not even you,” Abbie finished for Salmar. “You remember Metatron?”
Nathan looked exasperated. “Of course I do. Big mechanical bastard. He turns into a huge, flying gun when he gets pissed off. Yeah, I know all about him.”
“Moron,” Abbie hissed. “I’m talking about a demon.”
Nathan looked pitifully at Salmar. “You see? You see how she treats me?”
“Nathan,” Salmar said soothingly, “Abbie’s being a little curt because we’re running out of time. We need your help.”
“Uh-uh,” Nathan said, shaking his head. “I don’t want any part of that. The problem with fighting cartoons is you can’t kill them. You think they’re dead until they come back better than before.”
Salmar smiled patiently. “This isn’t about cartoons. What we’re talking about is real.”
Nathan started laughing hysterically and jumping around. “You did fuck her. I knew it! I’ll bet she’s a screamer.”
“You wanted to ta
lk to him,” Abbie reminded Salmar.
“I’m not finished yet.”
Nathan had begun walking toward them again. “Salmar, did you ever wonder why our eyes always close when we sneeze?”
Salmar shrugged. “I guess I always thought it was an evolutionary trait.”
“Don’t play his games, Salmar,” Abbie warned.
Nathan stopped and looked at Abbie. “You know, I didn’t want to say this before because I wasn’t sure. But now I know. You’re a whore.”
Abbie’s eyes narrowed. “I’ve had to deal with you too long for your madness to mean anything significant to me. However, you should know that I’m tempted to make you live out the rest of your life thinking you’re a tree.”
Nathan considered this. “What kind?”
Salmar sensed that Abbie wasn’t kidding. “Nathan, would you feel comfortable coming to Nevada to meet with some fellow prophets?”
“I don’t think I would be comfortable with that,” grumbled Abbie.
“Okay,” Nathan agreed, “but I’m driving.”
“Salmar,” Abbie whispered, “I don’t think you’ve thought this through. It would take almost ten hours to drive back to Las Vegas, and I’m not getting on a plane with him.”
“Wait,” Nathan said suddenly. “You didn’t say anything about her coming.” He looked disgustedly over at Abbie. “Salmar, you’re a nice guy, but she’s too distracting. She won’t be able to keep her hands off me. Better to just leave her here.”
“I guess we’ll have to take the car, then,” Salmar replied to Abbie.
“Ten hours of that.” Abbie motioned to Nathan. “Just remember that you were the one who wanted to do this. I tried to talk you out of it.”
“Maybe, you can help him,” Salmar suggested.
“On second thought,” Nathan said, “I really can’t leave. I’d like to help you, but, you see, I’m the mayor. If I leave, anarchy will ensue. This one upstart has been trying to get my job for years. I could not, in good conscience, give him that opportunity.”
“Nathan,” noted Salmar, “there isn’t anyone here besides us.”
“You just can’t see them,” Nathan responded. “They’re hiding because they’re scared of her. But not you,” Nathan added quickly, throwing his hands up defensively. “Oh, no. We’re not racist, here. That’s something I’ve been working very hard on since I took the job as mayor. We’ve got a bad reputation, but that’s just because of a few bad apples. We’re really quite progressive...on the whole.”
“We may be walking, anyway,” Abbie added. “I doubt this car is going to start again after what he did to it.”
“Oh,” Nathan said, “you don’t want to walk around out here. There are vicious animals about. This one guy walked out of here a couple of years ago and never came back.”
Abbie rolled her eyes. “Imagine that.”
Nathan thumped the hood of the car. “Besides, this car will run.”
At which point, Abbie and Salmar heard the engine running.
Nathan smirked. “But it does sound like it needs an oil change. A car is like a mysterious woman. If you want her to cooperate, you have to delicately get under the hood and drain all of her fluids.”
Abbie sighed. “Provided he doesn’t kill us before we get there, this should be quite an interesting adventure.”
She opened the driver’s side door and signaled for the other two to get in.
“You sit behind Salmar,” she directed Nathan. “At least, that way you will be more inclined to surprise him and not me.”
Nathan placidly got into the back and buckled his seat belt. As he was securing himself, he asked, “Did you invite Alex to this?”
Abbie turned and looked at him questioningly. “What did you say?”
“The boy who defeated Metatron. I think he should be there too.”
Salmar looked at Abbie, with a grin on his face. Then, he, too, turned around to face Nathan. “How did you know about Alex?”
“I don’t know,” Nathan said, already looking bored with the conversation. “Someone told me.”
“Who?” Abbie demanded.
“He said he was Raphael.”
Abbie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “You spoke to an angel?”
“No,” Nathan replied condescendingly. “He was a six-foot tall, mutated turtle.”
***
Alex sat on his bed, looking around at the room he had almost forgotten. In less than a month, he had slept in many rooms, but none of them had the pleasant appeal that this one did. They were all quite a bit larger and more extravagant. This one, however, was his real home.
“Is it what you expected?” a familiar voice asked him.
Alex smiled. He had been expecting this. “I didn’t know what to expect.”
“Then,” the voice inquired, “are you satisfied?”
“I don’t know about satisfied,” Alex responded, “but I think I’m content.”
“What are you going to do now?”
Alex sighed. “I don’t know. I’m concerned about my parents.”
“Alex, I told you not to worry about them. I will not allow any demon to inflict harm upon them.”
“Then, I suppose I will start this movement in Kingstone. I guess it doesn’t matter where I am.”
“Not really.”
“What should I say?” Alex asked.
“Just be honest. It will take a little while for them to comprehend, but they will not be able to deny it for long. There will be opposition.”
The prophet nodded. “I know.”
“Alex,” the voice said, “I want you to know that I will always be with you. However, this is the last time we are going to speak this way. Now, your path must be your own. For me to interfere any more would be to undo what you have become.”
“You’re abandoning me?”
Alex felt a warmth overtake him as the voice answered, “Never.”
“I still need you.”
“No, you don’t—at least, not in the way you think. I have given you the tools you need, and you have grown to be everything I hoped you would be. But now, you must make your own way. I told you that the true test is what you do when you think I’m not watching. It is time for you to pass that test admirably. You will do fine.”
“If I call for you...?”
“I will be there. You need to learn to find me in all things. I am in everything that I have created, including those whom you love. Our conversations have done my heart good, and I will miss them, but you don’t need them anymore.”
“I’m sorry that I came to Kingstone against your wishes.”
“Alex, it was your decision to make. You did not defy my will. In fact, you did as you should. If you feel that you need to be here, then I support your choice.”
“I’m looking forward to the day you and I can speak face to face again.”
“As am I. Always remember, Alex: the currency of the universe is faith. Have faith in me. Have faith in yourself and those who mean to help you. Don’t let that falter, for in that faith, you will find peace and strength.”
“Thank you for all you’ve done for me.”
“Thank you, Alex. I don’t need to be proven right, but I appreciate you doing so.”
Alex fell softly to the bed, as if a hand gently lowered his head onto the pillow. He drifted into a serene rest. His dreams were happy. But, for the rest of his life, he would always feel that he lost something very important that night.
Chapter 6
We never wanted the battle to take place in Kingstone. Up until it happened, we all held out hope that we could divert the demons’ attention to Las Vegas, where we were more prepared. However, as fate would have it, we needed to draw attention to Kingstone. If we hadn’t, it would never have been strong enough to endure the encroachment of the demon hordes. And the world would be far less suited to defend itself against the threat we face now.
--Abigail Martin, Through the Eyes of a Martyr
&
nbsp; Jeremiah sat at the head of an expensive mahogany table. Around the table were five very well-dressed gentlemen, varying in age from forty-five to seventy-five. Each and every one of them had a look of complete surprise on his face.
The demon was amused. “Perhaps, I did not make myself clear, or perhaps you have forgotten how much money and power I have. I intend to buy up as much of Kansas City as is possible. And you will help me fund that operation.”
“There isn’t anything there,” one protested. “You’re talking about a wasted venture. I don’t think I will be investing in your proposition.”
Jeremiah leaned toward him. “It isn’t a proposition. I own enough stock in each of your companies to be a significant threat. You will do this, or Prometheus will perform hostile takeovers on the five richest companies in the United States.”
“Impossible,” another growled. “You don’t control enough in any of our companies.”
“I will when I have each of you imprisoned for fraud,” Jeremiah said as he leaned back in his chair. “It will only take a call or two. And senators don’t cost that much.”
“We should know,” yet another one spat at him. “We have several of our own.”
“Not anymore. Face it; I have more to offer than any of you. I sell the government most of its technology at the moment. Too many people owe me favors, including each of you.”
“To even suggest that a broadcasting company is going to be any real threat to any of us is absurd,” the first man replied. “I am confident in my lawyers. You come to take my corporation, and I will nail you to a wall.”
“I thought you might feel that way, Bill,” Jeremiah responded. “And consider yourself lucky. In the old days, I would have kidnapped every member of your family and held them for the ransom of everything you had. If that didn’t work, I would kill each of them and send you video footage of it until I broke you. Today is a new day, though. Apparently, civilized society handles things differently. Instead, I have chosen to blackmail you.”
The Elder Prophets (To Absolve the Fallen Book 2) Page 11