by J W Kiefer
Jeremy groaned and tried to get up, but he was too dazed. “Sorry, but God says otherwise,” he managed to croak.
The demon’s eyes glinted menacingly as it stared down at Jeremy. It sneered, exposing enormous razor-sharp serrated teeth. “Your God will not save you—” The demon’s words suddenly became indistinct gurgling and choking, and its eyes went wide in shock. It clawed at its chest frantically as the flesh there suddenly protruded outward as if something were trying to break free from inside its torso. Jeremy smirked as the blue glowing tip of a familiar black sword burst out of the demon’s sternum.
The creature looked down at the protruding blade incredulously. Jared yanked it out and the gurgling demon fell to one knee, grasping at the gaping hole in its torso. Mortally wounded, the demon glared at Jeremy, who was still lying on his back, before dissipating into smoke as it passed from the mortal realm back to hell. The last thing to go was the creature’s large red eyes which remained fixed on Jeremy until the very end.
Jeremy got to his feet, nursing his bruised left arm. He glared at Jared who was now shaking his head and seeming to be arguing with himself. “What the heck just happened?”
Jared frowned at him. “We were attacked by a demon. Tzedakah says it was the prince of Binghamton or something like that. It also says more are on the way.”
Jeremy shook his head incredulously. “That’s not what I am talking about. I’m not stupid, I know what a demon is. What I meant was, what the hell happened to you? You should’ve made quick work of a lightweight like that. God! The Shogun would have trashed that guy before I even knew it was here. I don’t know what kind of cop you were in life, but you sure are a crappy… whatever you are.”
“I don’t know,” Jared stammered looking down at the sword in his hands. “I don’t know what happened. I think the sword tried to take me over, if that makes any sense, and I stopped it.”
“Seriously?” Jeremy rolled his eyes. “We were in the middle of a fight for our lives and you decided you didn’t want the help of a supernaturally powerful talking sword? Wow, you really are a piece of work.” He flung his hands up toward the sky. “God, what in the world were you thinking of bringing me here? Are you trying to get me killed?”
“Don’t be so dramatic,” Jared shot back. “What do you expect from me, anyway? Just ten minutes ago I woke up in a coffin and now, poof, I’m fighting demons and conversing with a talking sword.”
The distant sound of flapping wings and howls snapped both men out of their pointless argument. Jeremy whipped his head back and forth as if unseen enemies hid in every shadow. Jared turned west and stared off into the night sky. “They are still a few leagues off, but they will be here soon. We should go.”
“Okay, but they will most likely find us, no matter where we go in the city.”
Jared’s expression suddenly became glassy and he seemed to be in some kind of trance. He turned to Jeremy and put his arm around him. His voice was the same but different somehow as if someone else was speaking through him. “Don’t worry, I will protect us from them and take us somewhere where they will temporarily be unable to locate us.”
Before he’d finished speaking, there was a brilliant flash of light and the two men were gone.
Thirty-One
Jeremy was hunched over a rather unremarkable bush, throwing up everything in his stomach and contemplating just how much he hated teleporting. He wiped his mouth on his sleeve and looked around. Just as he suspected, they were standing outside the door to his motel room.
“I guess there is no need to ask how you knew where I was staying, is there?” Jeremy said as he straightened up. “Who am I speaking with, by the way?”
Jared stared at Jeremy for a moment before he shook his head, attempting to dispel the disorientation he felt. “What happened? Are there more demons?”
“Well, that answers my question.” Jeremy fished in his pocket for his room key. “Put down the sword; we are safe for now. Let’s go inside and get out of the cold. I am exhausted, famished, and I have to pee.”
Jared searched the night for any hidden enemies then, satisfied, he followed Jeremy into the motel room. Jeremy had already turned on the lights and tossed his coat over the nearest chair. The hotel room was nothing special, but it was clean, and Jared plopped into one of the desk chairs while Jeremy went to the bathroom.
Tzedakah still glowed but softer than it had when they were attacked. Jared studied the sword. The blade appeared to be made of some kind of steel, but a jet-black metal that was rough like iron. He ran his thumb across the edge, testing its sharpness. Even though the blade seemed weathered and aged, it was keen as the finest razor.
Jared was no scholar, but he did have a rudimentary knowledge of swords and ancient weaponry. When he was young, he had been fascinated by medieval history. This looked like a European long sword with a cruciform hilt.
Upon further inspection, he noticed that the hilt was in the shape of a scale held by a woman. The cross guard was the scale’s beam, and the quillons were in the shape of pans. The grip was the shape of a woman’s arm and had what appeared to be a white linen cloth wrapped around it. The entire weapon was wrought iron black, from the tip to the pommel, which was fashioned into the face of a beautiful woman wearing a blindfold.
Jeremy returned from the bathroom after a few minutes and opened the small refrigerator. He pulled out a half-eaten sandwich and a can of soda, popped it open, and drained half of the sweet liquid in a single gulp. Then he munched his sandwich. “So, any idea of what we are supposed to do next? I need to get back to the city tomorrow for work. I’d like to get at least a few hours of sleep before I have to head back. So, if we could speed this along, that would be great.”
Jared looked up from inspecting the sword to gaze at Jeremy. Flashes of information raced through his mind in an instant, too fast for any human mind to comprehend. Somehow he registered it all and not only understood what he was seeing, but remembered every bit of it as if he had a photographic memory.
“Why does your life flash before my eyes every time I look at you?” he asked. His voice still seemed strange to his ears as if someone else was speaking through him. “At least, all of the horrible things you have ever done or have ever been done to you.”
Jeremy continued to chew on his sandwich as he contemplated the question. “Honestly, I don’t know. I think it has something to do with the sword, it being the ‘Spirit of Justice’ and all.”
“That makes sense, I guess. Why can’t I see any of the happy moments of your life? You must have some that are not so... depressing.”
Jeremy chuckled and drained the rest of his drink. “Well, once when I was two, my daddy gave me a candy bar before beating me. That was nice.” He smiled. “Of course I have good memories, everyone does. But why do you only see the dark ones?” He shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. Maybe you should ask the glowing ghost blade.”
Jared scowled. “You really are no help at all.”
“Sorry. I can tell you one thing, though. If you don’t find a way to connect with that sword there, you won’t be around for very long.”
“Are there more demons out there?”
“Demons are the least of your worries, brother. They are lightweights compared to some of the other baddies I have crossed paths with over the years.”
“Great.” Jared sighed. “I hate the feeling of not being in control of my own actions. It’s disconcerting.”
Jeremy smiled. “I can see that. But, uncomfortable or not, you have to find a way to deal with it. On a different note, let me ask you something. Do you have the sudden urge to kill me?”
He shook his head. “That is the second time you mentioned me possibly wanting to kill you. Why?”
“Well, you are the new Spirit of Justice, after all.”
“What does being Justice have to do with killing you?”
Jeremy grew serious. “When you looked at me, you not only saw what happened to me, but all the thin
gs I did. I am no saint. So, I’ve got to know, did you have a reaction to anything I did, or rather, did the sword?”
Jared’s eyes seemed to bore into him as he contemplated the question. “Yes, kind of. I don’t really understand what I saw or what I felt. I don’t think it wanted to kill you. At least, not right now. Honestly, it is hard to distinguish between what are my feelings and what are the sword’s. It’s all so jumbled up in my head.”
Jeremy crumpled his empty can and tossed it into the garbage next to the desk. “Well, I guess I can relax, now that I don’t have to worry about you killing me in my sleep.”
That settled, Jeremy yawned and decided he was going to call it a night. He had just made it into the bathroom to brush his teeth when he heard the door slam. Jared was gone.
“What the hell?” Jeremy swore as he grabbed his coat off the chair and ran out the door after him.
By the time he had made it outside and to the walkway, he could just make out Jared racing down the street toward the small gas station on the corner. He took off after him, moving as fast as he could. He watched as Jared reached the intersection and jumped across it in one supernatural leap. Jeremy was nowhere near catching up, and his breath was coming in short gasps.
Shots rang out, shattering the quiet.
No, God, no!
Jeremy redoubled his efforts and pushed himself harder. Just as he reached the intersection, he saw Jared standing stone faced in front of the convenience store. He watched, horrified, as a figure came running out and stumbled right into Jared who was waiting for him directly in front of the door.
The man, if that is what he could be called since he was no more than seventeen, stopped short before he ran directly into him. Jeremy could see that the boy had a gun in his hand and what appeared to be a bag full of cash in the other. Jeremy’s pace had slowed from exhaustion and he gasped for air as he continued toward the inevitable confrontation.
The boy raised the gun and pointed it at Jared who stood staring at him, his sword ablaze. Getting closer, Jeremy could see that the kid in the black hoodie was tall and lanky, his wide-staring eyes wild.
“Don’t do it, kid,” Jeremy said to himself under his breath.
“What do you think you gonna do with that blade against my gun, man? I will cap your ass if you don’t get out of my way,” the kid said. He was trying to be intimidating but his voice cracked.
Jeremy had finally reached the other side of the intersection when Jared stirred. He twirled the glowing sword in one hand and pointed it at the young man. “Dejuan Johnson, you are guilty of the murder of Mary Salisbury,” he said, his voice ethereal and frightening.
Jeremy reached the two combatants just in time to see Jared swing his sword at the boy with lightning-quick speed. Before the sword plunged through the young man, however, it stopped. Jeremy could see the terror on the Dejuan’s face as he stared at the glowing blade that was now touching his chest.
“Jared!” Jeremy shouted. “Stop—he’s just a kid!”
Jared was grimacing and straining in a battle of wills. The boy, seeing his hesitation, raised his gun and fired. Crack! The shot echoed down the street.
The darkness in Jared’s eyes seemed to grow in intensity and the atmosphere around him became palpably dangerous.
“No,” Jeremy whispered as Jared plunged the glowing sword into the young man’s chest.
The boy’s eyes went wide, and his mouth opened but no sound came out. His gun clattered to the pavement at Jared’s feet. Jeremy’s nose was filled with the metallic smell of blood as the boy futilely grasped at the blade in his chest. He continued to watch in horror as the light in the boy’s eyes finally faded and his struggling stopped. He slumped forward toward Jared, driving the sword deeper into his body.
The young man’s head fell forward till it rested on Jared’s shoulder. He carefully withdrew his sword from the boy and gently laid him down on the pavement. He placed a hand over the young man’s lifeless eyes and closed them.
“I tried to stop myself,” Jared said softly. “He shot the clerk during the robbery. I sensed it back in the room and Tzedakah took over.”
All Jeremy could do was stare in dismay at the boy’s lifeless body. He knew that Tzedakah’s judgments were always just, but killing a boy like this seemed wrong to him.
Jeremy’s voice cracked as he said, “He was just a kid.”
“I know. But he murdered the store clerk and he was guilty.”
“Guilty?” Jeremy retorted. “Jared, he was just a kid.”
“I know,” Jared shot back, the darkness in his eyes writhing angrily. “Don’t you think I know that? I tried to stop but when he shot at me, I lost control.”
Jeremy backed away in fright as Jared turned on him, the sword in his hand glowing brightly. “Whoa now, big guy. Just calm down.”
Jared glowered at Jeremy, then turned his anger on the sword. “This is not me at all! I would never kill a kid, no matter what he had done.” He looked up at Jeremy, who was bathed in the sword’s soft blue light. “What kind of monster have I become?”
Jeremy had no answer for him. He just shook his head as he once again looked at the dead boy. He wished he had the right words to say to put Jared’s mind at ease, but all he felt was sick.
The sword flared, and a pulse of blue energy surged out from it, hitting the convenience store. All the electronics sparked and went dark.
Ducking, Jeremy said, “What was that?”
Jared shrugged. “An electromagnetic pulse to knock out the cameras and destroy the recording of us. Come on, we need to go before the police get here.”
With that said, he started walking back the way they had come. Jeremy took one last look at the boy before hurrying after Jared.
When Jeremy finally made it back to the motel, he found his door wide open and Jared sitting just inside the doorway on the floor. His head was back, his eyes closed. He appeared to be sleeping. The sword had returned to the shape of a ring. A faint dark blue band glowing softly on his hand.
Jeremy shut the door and eyed Jared as he moved to sit on the bed. Unsure of what to say, he decided that it was best to let Jared initiate any conversation. It did not take long before he spoke.
“What kind of monster have I become?” he said softly. Even though his eyes were closed, Jared’s face was contorted into an expression pain.
Jeremy sighed. “You are not a monster.”
“Really?” Jared’s nightmare black eyes flicked open. “Only a monster would murder a teenager.”
Taken aback by the vehemence of Jared’s words, Jeremy did not immediately respond. Only moments before, he had watched Jared kill the young robber, and he could not lie to himself that it hadn’t bothered him. Even though the act had seemed to be cold-blooded, however, he knew that was not necessarily the case. The boy had murdered the store clerk, and even though what Jared had done still troubled him, from what Jeremy saw, the young man was unrepentant of his crimes.
Of course, the boy was most likely scared at having been caught and simply reacted to the obstacle in his way. In truth, however, what Jared had done, harsh as it was, could be construed as justice. Even though he knew this to be true in his head, Jeremy could not shake the sense of revulsion causing his stomach to churn.
Jared took Jeremy’s silence as an affirmation of his conclusion. He grimaced bitterly. “Now I understand why you asked me earlier if I wanted to kill you. Perhaps you should be concerned.”
Jeremy swallowed hard. “I figure if you were going to kill me, you would have done it already,” he said with a confidence that he didn’t feel. “Look, I can’t imagine what you are going through, but I have known one other like you and he was not a monster. Dangerous, yes, but not a monster.”
Jared leaned back against the wall. “The clerk had two kids,” he said after a few minutes of silence. “She was a single mom working two jobs to support her family. Her husband had been killed in a drunk-driving accident a few years ago, leaving her a
lone to raise her two children. I don’t know how I know that; I just do. It’s like I can see everything.
“I cannot really put into words what I mean by that, though. It’s something far more complex than just seeing with my eyes. When I look at you, I see this moment we are currently experiencing, but I also see every sinful act you ever committed in your past. I am right now watching you commit sins in the past, while you also talk with me here in the present. For me, you are both in your past and here in the present; there is no distinguishing between the two. They are both just as real to me as if they are happening right now.”
Jeremy chewed that over. “I can see now why the others had no sense of humor.”
Jared went on, brushing off his comment. “Even now the clerk—her name was Jane, by the way—her life is playing out before my eyes, giving weight and justification to the anger burning within me at the injustice of her death. All I felt when I took the young man’s life was satisfaction. It was not hatred for the boy or a desire for vengeance, but rather a deep and overwhelming need to give her justice.”
“Perhaps it was,” Jeremy murmured.
Jared grimaced. “How could killing a kid be Justice?”
Jeremy shrugged. “He was a murderer, wasn’t he?”
Jared contemplated that. “Yes, yes, he was.”
“To us humans, justice is a fluid concept. We temper it with our own views of morality and what we feel is right and wrong, but Justice, in its essence, is not fluid but set in stone. It is black and white and absolute. For most of us, taking someone’s life as a punishment for murder is unmerciful and harsh. Particularly that of someone so young. That’s why most states have abolished the death penalty. But in truth, a life for a life could be seen as the very essence of Justice.”
He stopped for a second, then rolled his eyes.
“Oh, and God wants me to remind you that His mercy far outweighs His wrath. Anything else You want to chime in about?” He aimed this question at the ceiling.
Jared chuckled and temporarily forgot his melancholy. The respite, however, was not long. “So, is this what my life is now? Am I simply the universe’s executioner? An instrument of death?”