by Alexie Aaron
Cid gave up on opening the gate and hopped back in the control center. Father Santos was busy arguing with someone on the satellite phone in Italian. Finally, he and the caller came to an agreement. “The demon with Brian is Mbengar. Its normal form is that of a fish. It doesn’t have any weaknesses. It can disappear in the blink of an eye and take Brian with it.”
“Will it harm Brian?”
“Aside from turning Brian over to the winner of this fight, Mbengar is no threat to the child.”
“Well that’s a relief,” Cid said. “What about Aosoth?”
“Her whip is deadly. She has never lost a fight. She has killed four angels and seventeen birdmen. She likes to fight but hasn’t been in battle for a while.”
“And not with Mia,” Cid said.
“Mia stood a better chance when she had wings,” Father Santos said.
“I agree, but thanks to Michael, that’s a nonstarter.”
“May I remind you, Mia had something to do with it too.”
“Don’t even go there,” Cid warned. “Respectfully, I would like to point out that it was in a fit of pique your buddy in feathers acted.”
Father Santos reddened and then calmed himself. “You may be right.”
“You’re going to lose, Mia Cooper Martin,” Aosoth said. “Come and join me, and I’ll let you visit my pet. I’m going to call him Toad.”
“Like hell you are!” Mia said as she tossed Varden’s knife past the demon and brought it back quickly with her mind.
The knife embedded itself in the spine of the creature between her wings.
Mia wiggled it back and forth. First one wing was crippled and then the other. Aosoth fell to the ground. She stood up and reached back to find the knife had already left her body and was once again in the hands of her adversary.
Mbengar watched the battle, glancing at its charge crawling around on the ground coloring inside of a green rectangle.
“What are you drawing?”
“I’m drawing a picture that tells a story. Would you like to hear the story?”
“Yes, I would.”
“It rhymes,” Brian said. He looked around for something to hold on to, but there was nothing but the edges of the raised granite. On one of the edges of the rock, he spied a familiar set of wheels.
Brian started with a little Dr. Seuss, and then he recited the words his mother had whispered in his ear, including the demon’s name in each rhyme. Mbengar had no idea what was happening until the rectangle opened up. “Child, what have you done?” it asked as the tentacles grabbed hold and pulled Mbengar into hell. There was a strong gravitational pull emanating from the rectangle. It didn’t cease when the demon disappeared. Brian ran to the edge of the rock and hung on. Curly moved over the boy and dug its spikes into the rock. At the same time, a lone Optical crawled over the edge and let the pull take him. He dragged his tail along the stone and smudged the rectangle.
The pathway was closed, and the one-eyed worm wiggled around until it righted itself. The other Opticals moved around the surface of the rock, and when Jake was ready, they projected a hologram image of Mbengar. Curly released Brian. Angelo dropped down, picked the boy up in his arms, and disappeared. Curly adjusted his lenses and projected a rough facsimile of Brian sitting on the rock. From a distance nothing would have appeared to have changed. Jake hoped this would fool Aosoth.
“Ted,” Cid said when he answered the phone. “Brian is safe. Angelo is taking him to the aerie to make sure.”
“Thank God,” Ted said.
“How’s she doing?” Cid asked.
“They’re both getting their licks in. Aosoth is flightless, and Mia is without her shield.”
“Damn, oh sorry, Father,” Cid said to Santos.
Ted shook his head. “Tell that priest that a few prayers couldn’t hurt about now.”
“He says, for a man of science, you sure have been asking a lot of God tonight.”
“Touché.”
Dieter called another soul. The count of active ghosts now stood at three miners and Murphy against six of Aosoth’s guard.
They heard a rumble of faraway thunder.
“Murphy, hurry up! Their replacements are on their way!” Mark called out.
“We’re not exactly dancing with these boys,” Murphy complained, returning their talon strikes with his axe blows.
Pickaxe was backed into a corner. He felt something under his foot. It was a drain. A clogged drain. He smiled and took his tool and pulled the debris away. He watched as the current of water took the two guards in front of him unawares. They fell backwards as they were pulled towards the drain. Pickaxe severed their heads on their way out.
“That’s two more. Four left,” Dieter said.
Mark sensed the energy fall off of the rugged miners. He decided to take matters into his own hands. He didn’t cater to the use of firearms, but he cocked the shotgun, shouted, “SALT!” aimed, and fired. He killed one and injured another. “SALT!” He aimed again. The injured guard didn’t stand a chance. He was reloading when one of the guard launched itself on the teen.
The body of the ghost flew through Mark. Its head settled at Murphy’s feet.
Mark finished loading and yelled, “SALT!”
Murphy dropped to the ground, and Mark shot both barrels into the last guard.
The battle of The Rock was finished.
Dieter collected the losses and contemplated the remaining miners. He decided not to take their souls. If they wanted to join their fallen brethren, it would be up to them.
“Come on, let’s see if we can help Mia,” Mark said.
Dieter followed him out of the building and to the overlook where Ted watched his wife fight for her life.
Mia had heard the rumble of thunder and feared that Aosoth was going to receive fresh troops soon. She assumed, correctly, that the first guard had been taken out when she saw Murphy on the top of the building waving her on.
“I get the feeling that you’re not a quitter,” Mia said to Aosoth, who was breathing hard.
“One doesn’t survive the fall by giving up,” she said, winding up her whip.
“I was there before the fall,” Mia said, taking advantage of the breather Aosoth was taking.
“Impossible.”
“I was there,” Mia insisted. The air was thick with ash. Humans were not much more than a herd of animals. What was it like where you were at?”
Aosoth stopped and secured the whip to her belt. “I think you would like to believe it was peaceful. But revolution was at hand. You had to choose sides. I chose the strongest of the two brothers. I thought Michael was weak and he wouldn’t dare best his brother Lucifer. Lucifer let his arrogance get the better of him, and Michael fought hard for you little apes. Lucifer scarred him.”
“The curved scar on his face?”
“So you’ve seen him. It’s more than a wound; it goes deeper. It wound around the angel’s heart, and it turned Michael cold. When we lost, we were expelled with such force that we lost our wings.”
“Been there,” Mia said, remembering the pain of her fall.
Aosoth looked at Mia and saw the truth of her words. She covertly dropped her whip and watched as the four snakes crawled towards Mia. “But evidently someone caught you. We had no rescuers. We hit the earth with such force that we blew through the green and ended up broken and bleeding in the earth’s core. It changed us. Made us demons. To live forever in shadow.”
Mia felt the bite of the sea snake. She grabbed it, her hand secure behind the head of the creature and pulled it from her ankle. She tossed the whip over Aosoth using her mind to bring the other end to her. Mia yanked hard and Aosoth unprepared was brought hard into Mia’s body where she held her sword ready. And as the poison of the snake worked its way upwards through Mia’s lower leg, Aosoth ceased to be.
Mia was covered in ash. Working quickly, she cut off a long braid of her hair and fashioned a tourniquet above her knee with it. She started sawing off her
own leg with Varden’s knife to save her child. She felt the burn move higher. Mia feared she wouldn’t be in time. She twisted around, picked up her sword, raised it, and with all her might, brought it down hard.
The blow was blocked. Angel steel against angel steel, the sword spun from her hand. Mia fell backwards in frustration. She felt arms pick her up and twisted to see who had come to her aid. She focused on the tear that moved down the curve of the scar on a familiar face. “Hello, Michael.”
Chapter Nine
“Mia,” Ted’s voice broke through her dreams. His hands gently shook her.
“Whoa, what’s going on?” she asked, looking up into Ted’s big brown eyes.
“Can Alan represent our son at the demon court?”
Mia’s eyes opened wide. “I’m not sure. Ask Altair. I’m not sure that Alan would want to. It’s not exactly what he’s been used to.” Mia raised herself, and Ted put a few pillows behind her. “Did anyone talk to Judge Roumain?”
“Dieter sent word.”
“Is Brian still at Angelo’s aerie?”
“No, Angelo moved him to someplace else. Orion doesn’t even know where.”
“I take it this Mbengar is upset,” Mia said. “How about you inviting Mbengar here, and I could talk with it.”
“Invite an invincible demon here to our home?”
“Michael left orders, I’m not to move out of bed.”
“What were you thinking cutting off your own leg?”
“It made sense at the time. Besides, I knew you would make me a sexy robot leg that shot laser beams out of the toes.”
Ted chuckled. “You did, did you?”
“Anything else?”
“Dieter wants to know what he should do with his jar of souls?”
“What does he normally do with them?”
“Well, funny things happen when an archangel is around. The light doesn’t come. So Dieter brought them home.”
“Here?”
“Yes, they are on the shelf in his bedroom.”
Mia put her hand to her face. “Don’t they make sounds all night?”
“He’s borrowed Cid’s headphones.”
“K. Can I have a phone please?”
“Why?”
“I thought I’d call Orion for advice.”
“You said that last time, and then you ordered a pizza.”
“Did I?” Mia asked and laughed. “I must have been a wee bit high.”
“I don’t know how Burt got the drugs past me, but, Mia, you can’t take stuff like that when you’re pregnant.”
“That’s not what Judy says,” Mia lied.
Ted put his face inches from Mia’s. “Listen here, doll. I know you’re bending the truth, and I know you’re hurting, but you need to be careful, for your sake and the baby’s.”
“Yes, sir. I promise not to fight any demons named Aosoth.”
“That’s not going to cut it, Minnie Mouse.”
“I promise to take better care of us.”
“Please. When I saw Michael walking over with you in his arms, I thought you were dead. My world ended. All the math dropped out of my head, and my heart was swelling, ready to burst.”
“Whoa.”
“Yes whoa. But then he put you in my arms and told me of your few moments of fighting.”
“He was there?”
“Yes, he said that he couldn’t interfere, not without starting a war with Lucifer. Aosoth is one of Lucifer’s.”
“How long was Michael there?”
“Long enough to witness you winning the battle and stop you from slicing your leg off.”
“K,” Mia said, deep in thought. “Aosoth told me her side of the fall. It was brutal.”
“Mia, that was a long time ago, and Aosoth decided to become what she became. You saved Brian and Lucy and probably hundreds of virgins. You gave Aosoth so many chances to back away from the fight.”
“That’s not why I’m bummed. It’s the fall. I keep dreaming about Michael and Lucifer facing off. I must have picked it up when Michael brought me to you. I felt the gut-wrenching hurt Michael went through when he delivered the blow that finished his brother’s rebellion. I saw thousands fall. It was so senseless.”
“Maybe that was the first time an event was classified as ‘shit happens,’” Ted said, lifting an eyebrow.
Mia smiled. “You are so wise. Now hand me a phone.”
Ted walked into the hall where’d he put the bedroom phone. He brought it in and handed it to his wife. “Don’t tire yourself out.”
“I won’t.”
Audrey waddled to the phone. “Stavros cottage,” she said, recognizing it was a call from the states.
“Audrey!” Mia said excitedly. “How are you? How is my uncle?”
“Kicking and kicking and kicking.”
“It won’t be long now,” Mia said. “When are you coming home?”
“Orion won’t let me in the house until the fumes from the paint have dissipated.”
“Huh? Last time I was in there it smelled fine.”
“I knew it. He’s dragging his heels.”
“I think he likes having you there all to himself.”
“But I don’t have him to myself. There’s always a crowd of fishermen and goat herders in the front parlor. Talk about fumes.”
Mia laughed. “Is he available for a consultation?”
“For you, yes. So I hear you tried to saw your leg off.”
“You would have done the same to save Uncle.”
“I’m not that brave. Here comes the old sage,” Audrey said.
Mia heard a light slap on an arm and an “Ouch what was that for?” before he picked up the phone. “Hello, Mia!”
“Sorry for ratting you out about the paint fumes.”
“She was wise to it before you did. You only confirmed her suspicions.”
“I could use your advice.”
“Go on.”
“How can I get my son back?”
“Angelo will not bring him home until he is sure that the demon court is not going to have Brian punished.”
“About that. I was hoping to have a one on one with Mbengar here. Can you make it happen?”
“Not I, but I know someone who can. Why?”
“I would like for two things to happen. I want to explain that I told Brian to send whatever demon took him away from me to hell. I assured him it was a temporary thing. I was hoping for Aosoth.”
“And the second thing?”
“Brian should apologize.”
“He should.”
“Then we are in agreement?”
“Yes. But, Mia, you’re inviting a demon into your home. One that can’t be defeated. This is very risky.”
“Brian can’t survive demon court,” Mia said quickly.
“You would know. I’ll call in a favor and see what I can do.”
“Thank you, Orion.”
“Mia, take care of yourself. I hope they took away your sword.”
“Michael did. That’s the next thing I’m going to work on getting back. First Brian.”
~
Brian walked beside Angelo into the little stone house. There, sitting by a summer fire, were four little, wrinkled people.
“Brian, I would like to introduce you to my friends. Cato, Hilarius, Tacita, and Vita.”
“Hello, Brian,” Vita said. “Would you like to sit down?”
“I would,” Brian said, looking at the little old woman. “Are you old, Vita, or are your people wrinkly?”
Vita and Hilarius laughed. Tacita smiled.
Cato nodded his head and spoke, “We are very old.”
“He’s not yet two; imagine him at our age,” Hilarius commented to the others.
“I’m on a timeout,” Brian said.
“What is a timeout?” Cato asked.
“It’s when your mother doesn’t understand why you painted the dog with chocolate syrup, and you have to sit on the naughty step for a while.”
Hilarius laughed.
“What is this timeout for?” Vita asked.
“I sent a demon to hell,” Brian said. “Mom told me to.”
“Then you shouldn’t be on a timeout,” Cato reasoned.
“In this case,” Angelo clarified, “Brian sent Mbengar instead of Aosoth to hell.”
“Oh,” Hilarius said. “Mbengar doesn’t have much of a sense of humor.”
“It was there to hold Brian for the victor of a life-and-death battle between his mother and Aosoth.”
“His mother is human?”
“Ish,” Angelo added.
“Is you mother Mia?” Vita asked.
“Mia Cooper Martin,” Brian said proudly.
Tacita, who normally didn’t say much, whispered, “He’s the chosen one.”
Brian looked at the four and then at Angelo. “What are they talking about?”
“You are a very special boy. Your parents have been entrusted to teaching you the ways of the modern world so you can give good advice and judgements,” Angelo answered.
“Is that why I lost my allowance?” Brian asked.
“I didn’t hear about that. Tell us,” Angelo said, very interested.
“It all started with me staring at a pyramid of melons. I starting thinking and…”
The sounds of Hilarius’s laughs echoed through the mountains. The snow quivered, and several small avalanches moved down the higher peaks.
Cato took Angelo aside. “The child must be protected at all costs. The parents have done a good job so far. He must be returned to them.”
“How can I protect him and return him? Mbengar will be seeking restitution.”
“Take me to the court. I will speak for the child.”
“Cato, it is too dangerous.”
“Nonsense.”
“Excuse me,” Brian said, walking over. “What if I apologize to Mbengar like I’m supposed to do to the grocery store manager?”
Cato smiled.
“Where did you get that idea?”