Vendetta

by James Somers

  Two figures stood upon the terrace unseen, watching the man known by the world as Adolf Hitler. His hands were clasped behind his back which was held very straight. His pressed uniform presented him as the brave leader of a self proclaimed master race.

  “Ah, the noble human form,” Southresh intoned with a doe-eyed expression of melancholy. “I believe I might actually wretch.”

  Lucifer stood with him, but he did not comment on the remark. He just watched the son of his son. Southresh noticed the disappointment there in his expression. It wasn’t because the man had failed to become the villain he had always envisioned. Rather his disapproval stemmed from the fact that Adolf was not to be. He would not become the architect of the world system that Lucifer still desired to create.

  “Are we here to kill him?” Southresh asked when Lucifer remained silent.

  “That won’t be necessary,” he said finally.

  “No, I suppose the Allies will shortly dispose of him,” Southresh said.

  “Perhaps,” he replied coolly.

  “Of course they will. He may have won a few battles, but he’s lost the war. Now, it’s only a matter of time.”

  Southresh stood invisible in the human host of Toshima, the Japanese assassin. “You could let me deal with him.”

  “I never remove a piece from the board,” Lucifer said.

  “More chess metaphors?”

  “He could still prove useful, even if his end is near. Besides, you have enough toys to play with. What of the girl?”

  “I’ve led her on one goose chase after another,” Southresh said, grinning. “She’s tenacious. I’ll give the little imp that much. She’s chased me all over Japan with that cursed sword.”

  “Then I suggest you return to the game there,” Lucifer said. “Germany will be lost, but Japan may still present difficulties for the Allies. The Japanese value victory over their own lives.”

  “That all depends on whether you’re the one giving it or not,” Southresh said. “You don’t see the nobles crashing their planes into enemy war ships. Humans are all the same. Give them power and they find more value in their own skins.”

  Lucifer did not dispute his brother. Still, he fixed him with a hard, telling glare.

  “Oh, all right, I’m going,” Southresh complained. “But if you do decide to kill him, give him to me.”

  He vanished in a huff, leaving Lucifer alone. A second later Lucifer became visible upon the mortal plane. For a moment Adolf didn’t seem to notice him. Until he spoke.

  “I thought you might be near,” Adolf said. “Sensed you before I arrived at the house. Good. I’ve been waiting to speak with you for some time with no joy.”

  Lucifer did not answer the clear accusation.

  Adolf waited a moment for the angel to speak. He did not. Instead, Lucifer’s gaze remained fixed upon him. An eerie feeling crept up Adolf’s spine. The angel was stone still, not even possessing the rise and fall that came with mortal breathing. Of course, he was not mortal.

  Finally, Adolf looked away and began to speak. “Why have you not answered my calls? The war has gone badly of late. I need your help.”

  Still, the angel did not reply.

  Adolf grew angry. He could not withhold an outburst any longer.

  “Why have you not answered me?!”

  “You are not the one,” Lucifer replied calmly.

  Adolf was taken aback. “What?”

  Lucifer spoke deliberately slow now. “You are not the one.”

  “I heard you,” Adolf said. “What do you mean, I am not the one?”

  “There is one coming into the world. I wait for him. He will fulfill my desires for world domination. You are not the one.”

  “Because you have abandoned me!” Adolf shouted.

  Lucifer grinned. “Your time is nearly at an end, Adolf.”

  Adolf pulled up short of a reply. He had known that this might be the case. Still, he couldn’t just surrender to that analysis of the situation. He was making contingency plans for his death, but he wasn’t dead yet.

  “It doesn’t have to be that way,” he said, stammering for some way out. “We can still salvage the effort. The Allies can be defeated. With your help, I can—”

  Lucifer shook his head slowly. “There will be no help. I am withheld from changing this outcome.”

  “Withheld?” Adolf asked, flustered. “Withheld by whom…God?”

  “You see?” Lucifer asked.

  “What?”

  “You are not the one,” he replied. “You do not even believe in our great enemy.”

  “Why should I believe in God?” Adolf asked, incredulous. “I’ve seen nothing to convince me that he exists. You only mention God when you feel like not helping me…just a convenient excuse to withhold your power.”

  “You simpleton,” Lucifer said. “You’ve bought into the lie. That’s for the common cattle, not for the man who will be used to dominate the world. As I have said, you are not the one.”

  Adolf was close to bursting with fury. He had to do something. Everything was falling apart around him. The war, Lucifer, even his relationship with Anna.

  She was complaining more frequently of the headaches that plagued those who remained under his mental domination for too long. If he did not release his hold on her soon, she would suffer an aneurysm and die. It had happened more than once with others.

  Worst of all was the ever increasing realization that his life was going to end in the near future. Everyone seemed to see this. Even he could not deny that circumstances were turning in that direction.

  “Fine,” Adolf said finally. “I don’t need you anyway. I have a plan of my own.”

  “What plan would that be?” Lucifer said, drawing himself up to an intimidating height.

  Adolf considered whether he should reveal the matter. This virus developed by Mengele did not require angelic assistance. Perhaps, it was time for him to stop looking to the angel. He would take matters into his own hands.

  “A group of assassins I’m considering,” Adolf lied. “I can have the leaders of my enemies killed. While their governments are in chaos, I will rebuild my army.”

  Lucifer scrutinized him. “A bold plan,” he said.

  Adolf could hear the sarcasm in his voice.

  “It’s worth more than any help you’ve given me,” Adolf said icily.

  “You are unwise to tempt me,” Lucifer threatened.

  “Are you going to kill me?” Adolf asked uncertainly. “I thought you couldn’t interfere.”

  Lucifer’s expression turned stony. “I don’t have to waste my time with you any longer,” he said. “Your fate is already sealed. There’s nothing either of us can do about that now. I only regret that I’ve exhausted so many resources on you.”

  With this, Lucifer burst into a swarm of biting flies that shot out toward Adolf. He swatted at them madly for a moment as the angel pricked his skin in hundreds of places. Then the swarm flew on out of sight.

  Adolf stood up, his flesh tingling with rising welts. He cursed after the angel, but it was no use. There was nothing that he could do about it. In the order of things, angels were greater in power and might. Lucifer was immortal. He feared nothing.

  “Wait a minute,” Adolf whispered to himself. “Angels fear almost nothing. If I could get one of those swords…something to consider.”