by Dan Farris
“Fuck, both of you are using me! Lying to me, wanting to take advantage of me. I don’t trust either of you.”
“Sean, please,” pleaded Persephone.
“Stop talking! Both of you, leave me alone. For all I know, you could have been working with these people! Both of you!”
“Kid, I’m trying to help you,” said Aadon.
“You’re not trying to help me. Why didn’t you call another angel to help you when you were captured? Because you want the power you think I have all to yourself. I’m done with you two manipulating me. Persephone, you can go back to the planet you came from. And you, I want Mary Ann.”
“Aren’t you worried about her being discovered?” Asked Aadon.
“I don’t care. If I am to die soon, I want to be with her. Now bring her to me.”
Aadon opened a portal to The Darkness.
“Where is she?”
“I don’t see her. She’s gone,” replied Aadon.
“What do you mean she’s gone?”
“I don’t know, kid. She’s not there. The binding spell I put on her is gone. I can’t find her.”
It began to rain violently, with lighting and thunder. The ground shook. “Sean, calm down,” said Persephone.
“Where is she? What did you two do to her?”
“Nothing. You have to believe me. I don’t know where she is, but I’ll find her for you. I’ll be back,” said Aadon. Aadon tried to vanish, but he couldn’t move. “The humans, some of them must still be alive,” said Aadon.
“No, look at him. It’s Sean,” said Persephone.
“Where is she? I’m not going to ask you again!”
“If you let me go, I’ll find her,” said Aadon.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
Sean stared at Aadon and Persephone. Both of them began to levitate in the air. A pure teal light slowly radiated off of Sean.
“Sean, I’ll find her. I promise, just let me go. Don’t do this!” screamed Aadon. Persephone cried out in agony.
“What is he doing?” Asked Persephone.
“No more using me. No more, no more. You two…you two.” Sean staggered back and slowly fell to the ground. Aadon and Persephone were released as Sean lay unconscious.
Chapter 31-Sean
“In you I give the power, the power of this space. You will avenge me. You will avenge all of us.” When Sean awoke, he was back home in his room, laying in his bed.
“Damn, what a headache. Mary Ann!”
“Relax, he’ll find her.” Sean looked and Persephone was sitting at the end of his bed.
“You! Why are you here? I told you to leave me alone. Where’s Mary Ann?”
“Aadon is looking for her in The Darkness. He will find her.”
“Someone took her because of me. I know it.”
“She’ll be okay.”
“I don’t want you in my house. I don’t want you around me anymore. I’m through with you. Do you understand me? I don’t ever want to see you again.”
“I understand, I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“Stop acting like you give a shit about me. Did you put another tracking device on me while I was out?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Like I can trust you. Now get the hell out of my house.”
“Okay, Sean, and you should leave this house. Other covens may know about you now. I’m not sure if you’re safe anywhere.”
“Angels, demons, and even aliens are after me. What’s a few humans?”
Persephone got up from the bed and walked out of the house. “And don’t worry about the police looking for you because of what happened out in Newboard. I took care of it.”
Sean began packing, gathering as many of his belongings as he could fit in his car. If I can just get these powers figured out, I can find and protect Mary Ann. When Sean finished packing, he got in his car. Don’t know where to go, but have to say good bye to Father Adams before I leave.
Sean was driving to the cathedral when Aadon appeared in his passenger seat.
“Fuck, you scared the shit out of me!”
“Eyes on the road, kid. Jeez, you drive like you have something to prove. What are you, trying out for NASCAR?”
“Did you find Persephone?”
Aadon sighed.
“I’m sorry, kid, I couldn’t. I looked everywhere in The Darkness, but nothing.”
“No, no, no.”
“I was going to ask some jinn if they knew anything, but I couldn’t find any. I don’t know where she is.”
“Do you think she was captured by a demon?”
“You see, that’s the thing, all of Lucifer’s cronies were also gone. The only thing left in the Darkness were lost souls.”
“So, she could be in Hell? Suffering right now?” Sean started crying. She didn’t want to leave me. I told her I’d protect her. Can you go to Hell, to search for her?”
“I can’t, that’s outside of my jurisdiction.”
“You said you hid her. You said she was safe!”
“I did, but I guess my spell stopped working when the humans captured me.”
“Then screw your jurisdiction, go to Hell and find her! Bring her back to me.”
“I can’t, kid, I’m sorry. This is actually goodbye. I’ve been recalled to Heaven. Something big is going down. The higher-ups want all hands on deck.”
“Then go. I don’t need you.”
“Let me do you one last favor.” Small tracking devices left Sean’s body.
“She lied to me.”
“Yeah, chicks huh?”
“Wait. You knew the whole time about the tracking devices? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I wanted to learn more about her and who she was working for. They can’t track you anymore though.”
“So, you used me. I’m not surprised.”
“Take care of yourself, kid.” Aadon vanished.
Sean arrived at the cathedral where he had first met Father Adams and it had burned down. He rushed out of his car and ran to the firefighters. “What happened?”
“We don’t know. We’re still trying to trace the cause,” said one of the firefighters.
“The priest, was he inside when it burnt down?”
“I’m sorry, yes. He was dead when we got to him.” Sean stumbled back and walked to his car.
Father Adams, no, no. God, why is this happening? Mary Ann is in Hell because of me and Father Adams is dead.
Sean drove on the road, unsure of where he was going. He was nearly out of town, but a car was tailing him. “That bitch, she doesn’t let up.” Sean pulled his car to the side of the road, and Persephone did the same. Sean got of his vehicle and walked to Persephone’s car.
“Got to track me the old-fashioned way now that you don’t have a tracking device on me, huh? Do know what happened to Father Adams?”
“His cathedral was set ablaze and he was murdered.”
“Who did it? Witches? Warlocks?”
“A demon.”
“Did this demon take Mary Ann too?”
“I don’t know.”
“Shit, where is this demon now?”
“I don’t know. It appears as though he’s killing everyone close to you.” Sean walked back toward his vehicle.
“Where are you going?” Asked Persephone.
“If he’s looking for me, I’ll let him find me.”
“But he could kill you.”
“I don’t care. If this demon took Mary Ann, I want him to find me. I would tell you to leave me alone, but I don’t think you’d listen.” Sean turned his vehicle around and headed back to town.
Chapter 32-Sean
Sean arrived back at his home with Persephone pulling up right behind him. The beautiful day was in stark contrast to the internal pain and turmoil that Sean was experiencing.
“Don’t go in there. If the demon is in there, he’ll hurt you. We can find another way to get her back.”
“There is no we. Why are you
still here? Don’t get in my way.” I sent this demon to Hell the last time, I can do it again.
Sean slowly walked to the front door of his house and opened it. When he walked in, Mary Ann was sitting on the couch. “Mary Ann!” He rushed to her, hugged her, and kissed her.
“I thought the demon got you!”
“Who me? Nah, I was too slick for him. I heard from the other dead that a demon was specifically looking for me, so I left the Darkness and ran.”
“How did you know Sean would be here?” Asked Persephone who had followed Sean inside his home.
“I didn’t. I got lucky, I guess. I was going to come here sooner, but I thought the demon would be waiting for me. When I thought he was gone, I came, and Sean just walked in.”
“Thank God you’re okay. I was so worried about you.”
“Sean, can we have some alone time?”
“Yeah. Persephone, you know where the door is.”
“Sean, something doesn’t…”
“I said leave! Now.”
“There is so much I have to tell you!” Sean told Mary Ann about everything that had happened to him since they were separated.
“I’m sorry about Father Adams. I’m glad you came back to me.”
“You’re all I was thinking about. I love you so much.”
“I love you too.”
“If the demon is looking for me, then we shouldn’t stay here. I don’t know where we could go, but as long as we’re together, I don’t care.”
“I haven’t seen you in some time. Let’s make love before we rush out of here,” said Mary Ann. They proceeded to have sex on the couch. Afterward, they fell asleep.
Sean stood in the cathedral. He looked around and there was Father Adams. “Father Adams? Is that you?”
“Hello, Sean. I don’t have much time. You’re in grave danger.”
“I hate dreams.”
“You are dreaming, Sean, but I am real. I’m dead. I’m in the space between Heaven and Hell.”
“No, you’re supposed to go to Heaven! The demon that killed you, I’ll make him pay.”
“That’s why I reached out to you. It wasn’t a de--”
“Sean, wake up, wake up!”
Sean awoke from his dream.
“Are you okay? You were having a nightmare. You were shaking, screaming Father Adams’ name.”
“I was? Yeah, it was a weird dream. Felt so real. Father Adams said he was in The Darkness. Had to be a dream. He was a man of God. He has to be in Heaven.”
“You just feel guilty about what happened to him. You can’t blame yourself for that. It wasn’t your fault.”
“Yeah, yeah, you’re right. We better get out of here before the demon comes looking for me.”
“Sean, I’ve been thinking. Do you want to spend the rest of your life running and hiding? From demons, angels, and other people who want your power?”
“You know I don’t want that. I just want to be with you.”
“Well, if all they want is your power, why don’t you just get rid of it?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t thought about that.”
“I mean, I know it must be nice having that power and all, but is it worth being on the run forever?”
“How would I get rid of it? Let them kill me?”
“No, silly. What if you could get rid of it and not die, would you do it?”
“I don’t know, all my life I’ve feared that I was weak, and now apparently I have some great power.”
“What do you care about more, me or power?”
Sean remained silent for a moment.
“You know what? Fuck this power, I just want to be with you. What do I do?”
“Maybe if we summon the demon, he will take the power and let us go.”
“Why not try to call Aadon? He’s an angel. Demons are evil.”
“Sean, look at how Aadon betrayed you. You can’t trust him. At least with the demon, you know what it wants.”
“No. It killed Father Adams, and I’m supposed to give it power?”
“Father Adams being killed is sad, but like you said, he’s in Heaven. And the demon was just looking for you. Once it has the power, we’re free.”
“But the power is how we can be together. Humans can’t interact with the dead, remember?”
“That’s true, but after you give the demon the power, it’ll be so grateful that it will make it so we can still interact with each other.”
“That’s seems farfetched. I’m not sure about this, Mary Ann.”
“Do you love me? Then trust me.”
“Okay, how do we summon the demon?”
“We don’t have to summon it. If it’s looking for you, all we have to do is wait for it to show up.”
Later that night, there was a knock at the door.
“I’ll get it. Persephone just can’t leave me alone.” When Sean opened the door, there was a tall man, dressed in a nice suit.
“Can I help you?”
“As matter of fact you can.”
“I don’t mean to be rude, but it’s late, and I don’t know you.”
“You know me. We met before.”
“I think you have me confused. I’ve never seen you a day in my life.”
“The last time we met, I was wearing a mask. Of course you wouldn’t recognize me.”
“A mask?”
“You sent me back home, in my mask. I have returned.”
Sean clenched his fists and snarled. “You’re the demon!”
“My name is Uzza. Can I come in?”
Sean let Uzza in.
“You killed Father Adams and the others!”
“Remember what we talked about, Sean,” said Mary Ann.
“Unfortunate deaths. I wanted the power you have. I felt it.”
“Have you come to kill me now?”
“Not if you give me what I want: the power. If you try to fight me, I’ll kill you, take the power, and then take your soul to Hell for all eternity.”
“Why don’t I just send you back to Hell like I did the last time?”
“Sean, remember what we talked about,” said Mary Ann.
“I have a feeling the last time was a fluke. You do have power, but you don’t know how to use it. The power I have, I assure you, I know how to use it.”
Sean seethed at Uzza with rage and anger.
“Sean, you love me, right? We can be together. Ask him about what we talked about,” said Mary Ann.
“In case you haven’t noticed, my girlfriend is dead. If I could somehow give you the power, would you make it so we can still be together?”
“I’ll do even better. I’ll raise her from the dead.”
“You can do that?”
“Even without your power, I could do that.”
“I told you, Sean!” Yelled Mary Ann.
“Do you know where the power came from? What it is?” Asked Sean.
“I don’t care where it came from. I simply want it.”
“If I give it to you, all you demons, angels, witches and warlocks will leave me alone?”
“Yes, you’ll just be another useless human then. Unimportant and free to live out your short, pointless life. Do we have a deal?”
He’s a demon, but this is the only way I can be with Mary Ann. No more running.
“Okay, we have a deal. How do we do this?”
“I need you to go to sleep.”
“Why?”
“Because your powers will likely protect you while you’re awake. But you haven’t figured them out yet, so you’re vulnerable when you sleep.”
“I’ll go to sleep with you, Sean, and when we wake up, everything will be okay,” said Mary Ann.
“Okay.”
Sean and Mary Ann walked to his bedroom, and Uzza followed them. Sean lay in bed, and Mary Ann placed his shoulder over her. “Let’s go to sleep; everything is going to be okay.” Uzza stood next to him, smiling.
“Sleep well,” said Uzza. God, I hope I’m d
oing the right thing.
Sean closed his eyes and slowly fell asleep.
Sean was back in the cathedral and standing before Father Adams. “Father Adams? Not this dream again.”
“Sean, listen to me, the demon did not kill me. Mary Ann killed me.”
“No, no. Why would she do that?”
“She must have made some type of deal with the demon.”
“No, you’re not real. This is my subconscious. I’m in a nightmare.”
“This is real, Sean, I’m real. You know it’s true.”
“But I love her, and she loves me. She would never betray me.”
“How long have you known her? Where are you right now?”
“I’m in a cathedral talking with you.”
“No, in the real world, where are you right now?”
“I’m in my bedroom, lying next to Mary Ann.”
“Is that all?”
“And there’s a… demon standing next to me.”
“A demon!”
“You don’t understand. We made a deal. He’s going to get the power, and then make it so Mary Ann and I can be together.”
“You made a deal with the Devil, Sean? What were you thinking?”
“It was Mary Ann’s idea. She said it was the only way we can be together.”
“She killed me and is trying to betray you. You have to wake up.”
“No, we love each other, more than anything.”
“You may feel that way about her, but she doesn’t feel that way about you. And sometimes love isn’t enough. Now, you have to wake up and get away from both of them.”
“It can’t be true. It can’t be true. It’s not working. I can’t wake up.”
“The demon must be doing something to keep you under until he completes the process. You have to use your power to wake up.”
“I don’t know how to use it!”
“Think, Sean, think.”
“Father Adams, why are you even in the Darkness? You’re supposed to be in Heaven.”
“I don’t know. I must have not lived a life pleasing to God.”
“That’s bullshit! You’re a good man. Even now, you’re thinking about me and not yourself! If there is anyone that deserves to go to Heaven, it’s you!”
“Don’t worry about me, you just need to wake up.”
“Don’t worry about you? How can you say that? You know what it means being stuck in the Darkness?”