Pursuit of the Zodiacs (47 page)

“Take me to your lab, Dracuul, so I can see what other abomination you have brought upon us. Do I need to remind you what happened the last time you tried to orchestrate a Super Race of Vampeers? I can’t tell which one of your agendas will mark the extinction of our Race: your abuse of Time Travel, or your pathetic obsession to create Super Vampeers.”

“Abomination? Super Race? What do you speak of?” Dracuul asked with a grin on his face.

Victoria answered, “This same abomination that caused Vega to turn mad, drawing the life out of hundreds since his expulsion. There’s word that he now feasts upon the flesh of his victims. Because of you, he has brought shame to our race.”

Something caught her attention. She sniffed the air and was so stunned by the smell that she lost her train of thought. She cleared her head and followed the scent. “And just where do you think you are going?” Dracuul said. “Guards!”

His guards armed with futuristic automatic weapons that she’d never seen before pointed them directly at her and her men.

Victoria lashed out, “You dare have your men draw weapons at me?” She had to suppress her rage, lest her true form be revealed. She continued, “So, how was your excursion into the future, Dracuul?”

“You know what goes on in these Dimensions, so don’t take me for a fool. I would never engage with people of the future unless my life was in jeopardy. Vigilantes ambushed us during our passage back here. It seems like they’ve been doing this for years, preying on defenseless people from the past, robbing, killing and pawning the items from their victims. In defending myself, I merely took a few parting gifts. After all, why let anything go to waste?”

Victoria replied, “Bullshit! You’re trading with opportunists … mercenaries from the future again, Dracuul! I’ve had enough of your lies and deceit. It’s time you atone for your crimes! I will report this to the higher-ups and bring them here personally!”

Dracuul said, “Go ahead and waste their time. You have no case, and will only be putting yourself at risk.”

Victoria departed with her men.

Dracuul spoke to himself, “It’s time someone shut that bitch’s mouth once and for all,” and then yelled for two of his followers. “Fidor and Dynamo, come forth!”

The pair presented themselves before Dracuul’s throne, bowed down and listened. “You two will be in charge until my return.”

Fidor replied, “My Lord? Are you sure?”

Their Lord confirmed, “There will be no dispute. I will return in a few hours. It is time I reclaimed my two newest additions.”

Surprisingly, they kept their part of the bargain. They gazed upon a restored Judgment Hall. Now, free from Devils, but it looked far from restored. Mutilated bodies lay everywhere, tabernacles burnt, and documents and Scrolls destroyed. Reinforced gates were needed at every entrance. Pieces of broken boulders from the Judgment Hall rooftop lay scattered about.

Anthony commented, “Were you expecting anything less?”

Malachi answered, “Dealing with them? Yes, completely. Pharisees must have had information worth all the gold in the Kingdom of Heaven itself.”

Malachi and Anthony dispatched their Angels across the Judgment Realm to assemble the respective parties in various lines and formations to await their judgment. Renovations for the Judgment Hall were underway as more Angels arrived by special vehicles and craft.

Anthony surveyed the area. “It could take a year, maybe more, to clean this place up.”

Malachi replied, “You could be right, but at least it’s ours once more to repair.”

Anthony said, “Was the sacrifice of our Brother worth it?”

Malachi answered, “No. However, the job is complete, and that’s all that matters. We can go before God with a clear conscience.”

Anthony scratched his head. “You can, but will God accept what we have done?”

Malachi replied, “God taught us the benefits of sacrifice through his only Son. Have you learned nothing?”

Anthony saw something unusual in the distance moving at a high rate of speed. He took out his binoculars and at first could not believe what he saw. “Brother, look!” He handed the binoculars to Malachi.

Malachi said, “Could it be? Yes, it is. It’s The Four Talismen!”

Anthony asked, “Where are they going in such a hurry?”

Malachi answered, “I don’t know, but they must be stopped. Have someone forward this news to the Kingdom. We must follow them.”

Anthony wrote upon a Scroll and ran to find one of their soldiers. “Here. Take this to the Kingdom.”

Malachi continued to watch the Talismen through the binoculars as Anthony returned. “Can that soldier be trusted?”

Anthony gave a somewhat enigmatic response, “Can any one of us?”

Malachi, with little time to think, replied, “Let’s move forward.”

Both Malachi and Anthony took a private team and silently headed out to trail the Four Talismen.

Having followed them for over a half hour, they still had no idea of their destination. Anthony asked, “My God, where are these Devils leading us?”

Malachi said, “I don’t know, but we must find out what they are up to by any means we can.”

They had problems keeping up with the Four Talismen, who well-aware of their followers, knew that it wasn’t an attack, but more a pursuit of curiosity.

Dearth commented, “They grow tired and weary. They will retire soon.”

Feud spoke, “If not, we will have to force them into retirement. If they follow any further, they will know our terminus. And we cannot allow that.”

Plague added, “Yes, Feud is right. Their persistence will be their ticket to death. Demise, make sure this pursuit doesn’t continue past the progressive mark.”

Demise answered, “Yes, leave it to me.”

“Look! One of them departs!” one of the soldiers shouted.

They followed the Four Talismen into a mysterious and misty forest.

Anthony said, “No! They’ve split up. They must know we’re in pursuit.”

Malachi instructed, “Ease your voice and settle down. We’re not sure if we’ve been marked. Do you still see him?”

Anthony answered, “No. One of them has vanished behind the tall trees and mist, East of where the other three are heading.”

Malachi orders, “Move with caution, Brethren.”

Their pace slowed. They realized they were no longer the pursuers. A soldier raised his binoculars to his eyes. Death looked through the opposite side of it. Demise slapped the binoculars out of the soldier’s hands. Before he could reach for his laser weapon, Demise lowered his axe into the soldier’s neck and retreated into the mist.

Anthony yelled, “To Hell with you, Demon!” and advanced.

“Where are you going? Get back in formation!” Malachi commanded.

Their soldiers dispersed and scattered away like ants as they anticipated the coming of the Four Talismen of Armageddon. Demise continued picking Malachi and Anthony’s private team apart with vicious sword and axe strikes. Their high-powered laser guns proved useless in close combat. Demise exploited the advantage offered by the mist.

Anthony said, “Useless good-for-nothing soldiers. Amateurs! We should’ve called upon some Master Archs to accompany us.”

Malachi noticed Demise observing from behind a tall tree. “There he is!”

The tree was riddled with extreme laser fire and broke down. “Incoming!”

Through the smoke generated from the laser, the tree made a cracking sound as it plummeted. The impact caused everyone to shield their faces from flying debris. A few soldiers went in to investigate, never to return. As the smoke cleared, Anthony and Malachi saw Demise removing his axe from the head of their one remaining soldier. As he cleaned the blood from his weapon, he stared at Anthony and Malachi who looked at each other, and waited.

Malachi spoke, “Well, if we must die here, let it be a good death, well-deserved for our transgression.”

Anthony responded, “The Pursuer?”

Malachi answered, “Yes, I believe so. If we survive, I guess our atonement will have to come some other time.”

They dismounted from their horses and went to meet the lone Talisman. Anthony swung his sword. Demise moved out of reach, axe in hand. Malachi stood ready to shield his colleague. He used one of the sides to his double-sided axe to hook Demise’s sword and pull it from his hands. Demise backed off and picked up his embedded axe from the ground. Malachi and Anthony gave him little time to wield it. Anthony swung his sword but was knocked into his own hybrid horse. The force dazed him. He settled beneath the steed, doing his best to avoid the skittish hooves of the horse. Malachi thrust his golden spear towards Demise. He caught it midway and backhanded Malachi. The Archangel rolled towards Anthony. As he checked on his friend, Demise waited again.

Malachi spoke, “Devil, what are you four up to?”

The fiend of the Four Talismen spoke, “Ha, what does it matter? Your death will deprive you of any satisfaction this news will provide. Just know that our expedition to Rome will be the beginning of the end of your pathetic Kingdom. You’ve wasted my time long enough.”

His eyes turned to an amber glow as hands of the damned broke through the ground, grabbing the dead soldiers scattered about the battlefield, pulling them under.

Malachi yelled to his downed colleague, “Damn. Anthony, move!”

Anthony staggered to his feet as hands clasped around him.

Malachi retreated, jumping over the hungry claws of dead corpses. Reaching Anthony’s side in a nick of time, he chopped off the hands that pulled at him. Anthony came out of his trance. “Look out!”

They saw Demise flying overhead, releasing death from his chest. Whatever the black mist rested upon, it brought death … to horses, insects and trees, and even to his own summoned Hell creatures.

The two fled, dodging the barrage of death that covered the misty forest. Malachi’s spear returned to him and pierced Anthony’s back. The impact dropped them both to the ground.

“Anthony!” Malachi stood up, infuriated, and saw the Demon for the last time. Malachi engaged, delivering a fatal blow to the Demon’s upper body. Close enough
to see the root of evil that rested on the fiend’s chest, Malachi gazed into and was sucked into a Dimension of death. Demise consumed one half of Malachi’s body and ejected it. His skeleton, weapon and armor spewed upon the Earth.

After having dealt with Malachi, Demise searched for Anthony; but he had left. In his place remained Malachi’s spear, a trail of blood, and more severed hands of Devils reaching from the ground.

Demise said, “He will bleed out before exiting this Dimension.” Demise retired and headed back to join his fellow Talismen.

CRUSIX ARRIVED AT BISHOP’S KINGDOM WITH LUCIFER’S SCROLL

The tall doors suitable for Giants remained closed, and snipers perched on the high towers of the Realm.

He yelled to the Archangels. “My name is Crusix. Tell Bishop I’ve come alone.”

An Archangel replied, “Who sent you?”

Crusix answered, “I’m here on behalf of Lucifer. I’ve come to relay a message.”

The Archangels spoke amongst themselves. One left to inform Bishop about the visitor at the gates.

Moments later, the tall doors opened.

Crusix entered the Kingdom, analyzing each and every feature within. He entered the huge hall. He saw Bishop sitting on his throne, surrounded by over five hundred Archangels. The natives whispered amongst each other. Bishop ordered his men to clear the hall and invited Crusix to a private section of his Kingdom.