First Circle Club
Page 33
He looked out the front window of the motel room. People wearing pajamas, bathrobes, underwear, and even kinky lingerie were wandering through the parking lot. At least it was a warm night. Police cars with flashing red and blue lights were arriving.
"You have thirty seconds," Virgil said, "and then we're jumping out the back window and running."
* * *
The team arrived at headquarters an hour later. Haymaker was dragging his feet from exhaustion after a very long night, but everybody else was smiling and chatting. The fact they might never see each other again created an air of urgency. They wanted their final hours together to be enjoyable.
Virgil setup the broken mirror so they could talk to Mammon. Sara put fresh water in the silver platter they used to talk to Barachiel. The team sat on chairs in front of the two objects.
"Mammon!" Virgil said.
"Barachiel!" Sara said.
The demon and the angel appeared.
"What is it?" Mammon said.
"Don't you know?" Virgil said. "We finished the mission. We used Furies' Bane to destroy Daniel."
"Are you certain? His soul didn't return to Hell."
"He is certainly not in Heaven," Barachiel said.
"A big white lion ate up Daniel," Lisa said. "I saw it with my own eyes. He's gone."
Mammon furrowed its bulging brow. "Two souls are missing now. This is a deeply disturbing trend. I don't have the slightest idea how it is possible."
Silence filled the basement.
Virgil was dreading the answer, but he had to ask the question. "What happens to us now? Do I go back to Limbo?"
"That subject is... complicated," Mammon said. "It took a special amendment to the Celestial Contract to send you to Earth. There is no written clause specifying the conditions of your return. It's not clear how to adjust your Final Judgement to account for actions taken during your second visit to Earth. This kind of thing was never meant to happen."
Virgil allowed himself a cautious smile. "I can stay here?"
"For now. The mission isn't done anyway. Daniel is apparently gone, but confounding questions remain. We don't know who helped him escape from Hell, and we don't know where he is now. Answering these riddles is more important than ever."
"I agree," Barachiel said. "I think all of you should stay on Earth. There could be more distressing occurrences. Until this matter is fully resolved, I would like to have a team of experts ready to act on a moment's notice."
"So be it," Mammon said. "You will remain on duty. We will talk again the next time there is trouble."
The angel and demon faded away.
Virgil let out a whoop of joy. "I get to stay!"
He and Lisa exchanged high-fives.
He looked at Sara. "Oh, but you don't get to go back to Heaven."
She smiled. "That's OK. It will still be there when I'm ready."
"Yes." Alfred nodded. "I'm happy to stay. Being on Earth is vastly more interesting."
"Great." Virgil grinned. "I can't wait to tell Mei."
Detective Haymaker stood up. "And I can't wait to go to sleep. Congratulations on a successful assignment even if you broke every rule in the book along the way. And let's not forget the large group of security guards you murdered. The teenagers of Chicago are safer thanks to you though. I'm not sure what I'll say in my report. It will be an exercise in creative writing."
Virgil got up and shook his hand. "It was great working with you. We'll be in touch next time we need a friend in the force."
"And I'll call you if something strange and supernatural happens on my watch. Hopefully, that won't be soon."
Haymaker left the basement.
"Let's have a party to celebrate!" Lisa said.
"How?" Sara said. "We can't drink."
"Then how about just a movie."
"I have an even better idea," Virgil said. "As long as we have tons of free time, we should train for the next mission. Our performance during the last one was sub-par. We have to prepare to do better."
"Are you serious?" Lisa said.
He nodded. "And we need a name for our little team. Something exciting like 'the Heaven and Hell Action Squad'."
"That sounds like the title of a comic book," Sara said. "The name should be more subtle. If somebody overhears it, I don't want them drawing any conclusions. How about the 'White and Red Rose Club'?"
Lisa shook her head. "We're not florists. We're all from the first circle of Heaven and Hell, so what about 'First Circle Club'? It's nice and simple, and it won't mean anything to somebody who doesn't know the context."
"I like it," Virgil said with a smile. "It sounds fun."
"Works for me," Sara said.
Alfred nodded. "Then that's who we are. Congratulations on our first successful mission, First Circle Club! Now let's go see a movie."
* * *
Uriel walked across the desolate lunar landscape with no regard for the hard vacuum, the scorching temperature, or the dangerous radiation. The pristine view of the Earth held the angel's attention instead. It was such a beautiful blue orb, a jewel in the heavens.
The Moon was an interesting place theologically. It was technically part of the Earth system and subject to the Celestial Contract, but in practice, nobody cared. Man hadn't set foot on the dusty surface in forty years and might never again. Heaven and Hell had stopped paying attention to the place. It was the perfect location for a clandestine meeting.
A crater widened, and a demon stepped out of the hole. It was a magnificent creature with a face as perfect as an angel's but skin as black as the darkest night. It had the body of a goat the size of an elephant.
Uriel smiled. "Greetings, Azazel."
"Likewise," Azazel said. "Are you pleased with the way things turned out?"
"Absolutely delighted. The first blow was soundly struck. Reverberations are being felt from the Throne to the Pit."
"I agree. Even Satan is more animated than usual. Virgil and his crew are an unexpected bonus."
"Yes," Uriel said. "The longer they stay on Earth, the better it is for us. Their mere existence is a stain on the Contract."
"We must keep them busy."
"Very busy. Chicago will become an interesting place to live. Virgil will lead many missions before his work is done."
"Don't overreach just because we achieved one victory," Azazel said. "Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. We must keep our hand hidden."
"Of course, but we should begin formulating a new plan at once."
"I already have an idea."
Uriel leaned forward eagerly. "Tell me, please. Does it involve more bloodshed?"
Azazel nodded slowly as flames shot from its eyes. "Ask yourself this question. What happens to a living person who enters Heaven?"
* * *
Virgil watched Mei put a bite of meat in her mouth, chew, and swallow.
"Are you going to watch me eat the entire time?" she said.
"You're a very pretty eater," he said.
"That's just weird."
They were having their long delayed date in a Korean barbeque restaurant. Meat sizzled on miniature grills mounted in the center of every table, and clouds of steam wafted through the air. Virgil wished he could smell the aroma. The lighting was low and romantic.
"Sorry," he said, "but there isn't much else to look at."
"Could you pretend to eat at least?" Mei said.
"I'd just choke and cough."
"From now on, we're not eating together. The next date will have to be something else."
Virgil perked up. "I get a second date?"
"Sure. You're a real-life hero and a handsome man. It's hard for a girl to say 'no.'"
He smiled.
"How about a wind tunnel?"
"A what?"
"They have a wind tunnel near the airport," Mei said. "It blows you up in the air. You can practice skydiving. I've always wanted to try it."
"Sounds like a lot of fun."<
br />
"Wait. Before we get too serious, I need to know how long you'll be on Earth."
"I wish I could tell you," Virgil said. "Could be a week, a month, or years. I don't even know when the next job will be. The First Circle Club will use the free time to train."
"You have amazing powers. You could fight crime instead."
"That's not why we're here. Something very peculiar is happening in Heaven and Hell, and it's our job to solve the mystery. Of course, some incidental heroism might happen on the side. I'll be counting on your help with the tech stuff."
"Do I get anything in return?" she said.
"Gratitude?"
"How about if you help my father and I with the store? We could use a big, strong demon-thing to keep us safe."
He smiled. "It's a deal. Hopefully, I'll keep you safe for a very long time."
THE END
To be continued in... PARADISE HACKED.
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Table of Contents
Copyright
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three