Son’s of Cain Part 2
Dr. Jacob Regan
Lost Haven??, ME
Present Day, ???? Hours
[...]And it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up again Abel, his brother, and slew him.Genesis 4:8
The pound was what finally brought him around. It was a slow and radiating pounding starting from the back of his head and through the front of Dr. Regan’s face. What in the world was that. A metal clink invaded his senses and his eyes fluttered. Looking down he could see that his hands were manacled. Manacled. Not handcuffed but massive ornate manacles with strange script that almost seemed to scamper away from his eyes as he tried to focus. The painful radiating pounding in his skull though made it so much harder to focus his eyes on the strange script.
Almost as though on cue the manacles seemed to stretch and he realized there was another sensation at his back that started to radiate up slowly. Cold and hard in a roll and he realized that he was being pulled against something. His arms and legs seemed to stretch out slowly and then his legs followed suit. Was he being stretched out on a table? What the hell was going on. Wait. Not a table...an altar? His vision was still hazy but nothing about this situation seemed good as he began to fade again. The blackness closing in all around him once more.
It started with a buzzing. A itch on the brain if you will. It seemed to come slowly from a distance. Each breath made his head ache but the breaths seemed to come as though through water. Bubbling into the lungs in a slow ache. Beyond the edges of vision were the swirling masses of a cosmos. Stars and celestial bodies drifting through the open spaces; the darkness between light. The buzzing continues slowly building within his skull to a crescendo. The ringing is suddenly joined by a light. A hash white thing that blazed with as though from a fire around the edges of his vision. Then.
A presence.
Something old.
Something powerful.
Something….good?
No. Perhaps. Righteous.
Knowledgeable certainly.
Not quite almighty but certainly catastrophically powerful.
It burned at the edge of the eyes and filled his vision. A head wreathed in a blazing silver halo. Wings that filled the space between the stars. Looming with a sword of fire and a set of keys in its hands. His hands. A being of light, fire, and judgement.
Who...what?
"I am Repentance given form. I am the Blazing Sword that guards the gates of Paradise. I am he who walked before the wrath of the Lord of Hosts and snuffed out the first born of Egypt. I am the Keeper of the Pit. He that reigns over the storm and thunder. The blinding light that smote the mighty hosts of Sennacherib. I will be there when the trumpet sounds to ride upon the wind and reap the foul fruit of the earth. I am annihilated, come round again. In your tongue: I am Uriel."
The name resonated as though it was a physical wave washing over me resounding through me and pulling at my very core. I knew that name. Why did I know that name? It stirred within me as though it were some half forgotten memory. Rising slowly through the muck of faded memory but it refused to surface.
Its voice rang out again like a deep bell on a heavy wind. "Arise. There is little time, we must escape. They have called me here to you. I have bought us mere moments before time resumes its course. Rise Doctor Jacob Harding Reagan, the time is at hand. Awaken!"
My eyes snapped open and I could hear an ear splitting sound and my eyes burned as though they were on fire. It was at that moment I realized the noise was my scream as I thrashed on a stone slab of a table against cold metal manacles. Where in the world was I and what was happening? I heaved against the manacles and suddenly unexpectedly, they began to give. I heard startled voices from around me and the shuffle of robes and feet on stone floors. This was insane what was going on?
“He isn’t supposed to be awake! The possession is complete. We need to destroy the Archangel while it's still vulnerable!”
Other voices spoke in around him. Fearful voices. A chorus of fools. Of those who would do harm to the innocent. Dangerous rebellious creatures.
Where were these thoughts coming from? They didn’t feel like his at all and yet there they were. There was a loud snapping sound and he felt free. Free of the chains suddenly. He blinked. How was that possible he had just ripped the chains free of the altar. He’s feet were still manacled. Simple to solve. There was a burst of light and fire; suddenly there was a blazing sword in his hand and we swept it at the chains. They melted away and he stepped free, the metal bubbling away from his skin.
Figures moved around him and he reacted. His right wing snapped out and impaled the first form on his right before flinging it into a pack of others. The wing swept suddenly and flung three of the forms that tried to bar his way. They cracked against the wall and slid lifeless to the floor in a heap. Such fragile creatures. He stood atop a stone altar with strange and disturbing sigils carved upon it. Surrounding him were six pillars, they were encased in glass and crumbling, beyond them in another offset circle were six more pillars also crumbling and encased in glass. A final six pillars were again off set and encased in glass. They looked like they belonged in a museum. The room itself was actually largely white metal paneled with concrete flooring. It had the feel of a warehouse and the sterility of a lab. As he turned and took in the room he realized that the altar was contained in a glass box. The mortals in robes within the box had been smashed against the glass by his wings. It was clearly some sort of ballistic glass as it had cracked from the force. In front of him a pair of sliding glass doors were closed. Jamming his wings into them he ripped them open in a spray of twisted metal and shattered glass as he stopped off the altar.
Wait.
Wings? ”I have wings?
Yes. We have wings. The voice resounded within him and filled him with a warm light that seemed to sear away all else. It was a strangely antiseptic feel as he stepped from the altar. Come. We must escape before
”Kill it quickly before it escapes!”
The man that bared the escape was covered in strange tattoos, they crawled up his skin and over his face and scalp. A cadre of robed and cowering men and women stood in a semi circle around him. A strange collection of automatic firearms and strange ritual daggers. Rearing back with the sword in hand he moved to swing but the wrongness of the act suddenly stopped the swing of his sword as it would have split the man in two.
We cannot so it is written by the prophets of the Almighty Lord of Hosts. ‘Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.’
Jacob stood in shock. ”That is Cain?”. The strangeness of the whole moment suddenly came crashing down on him. First of all where had the wings come from. Second where the heck was he. Third the Bible was actually more than just stories and morals?
That, is Cain. And we cannot destroy him.
”Well that can’t be good at all. What now?” There was a pause and then his voice seemed to change and it resounded in the space. ”Cain. You dare to stand against a First Son of the Lord of Hosts? Begon Cursed One. How dare you summon one of us to this realm”
”You were all always so arrogant. The world has changed you imbecile creature, one of the mortals has given the power of Angels and Devils to the masses. The heathen gods have returned and your Lord of Hosts cannot interfere again. There will be no flood, no pillars of fire, no interventions. You cannot even touch me and short of the return in Glory he has no more options. We will kill you and then we will summon the remaining First Sons and Daughters killing them one by one. When the Beast is released we will win the final battle.”
A furry suddenly built within Dr. Reagan, a righteous one that seemed to stem for something that was now seated inside of him. His wings fleshed and his hand clenched hard on the hilt of his sword. The arrogance of his man struck him, but still the feelings were not his they were coming from within him. It was like he was experiencing some else’s emotions. Additionally he was still not sure how in the world he had wings.
”We will need to try again with you though Uriel, one of my children seems to have miscalculated on the dosage to keep your shell sedated. Never mind though we shall correct that momentarily” The bauld and robed man brought his left hand up with his last three fingers extended and his thumb tucked to the side the first finger pointed at Dr. Reagan. The ground rumbled and a nauseating orange light cracked the ground as strange symbols began to carve themselves into the ground around him. What came next was even more disturbing as a torrent of screams assailed his mind.
”You monster” he hissed through the pain as the sigils continued to carve themselves. Sweeping his sword in an arc he drove it into the concrete floor and began to push it in a line through the sigils. It sparked and rained a cascade of yellow, orange, and silver sparks as he bent his muscles to pushing the weapon through the bowing lines of the sigils. It should have gone easily as he pushed by the sorcery fought back trying to stop the Fiery Sword. Unbidden something from his past bubbled up and he found himself reciting something he hadn’t in years. “Touch me, O Lord, and fill me with your light and your hope. Give me strength when I am weak, love when I feel forsaken, courage when I am afraid, wisdom when I feel foolish, comfort when I am alone, hope when I feel rejected, and peace when I am in turmoil.”
So you are one of the faithful The voice was back but Dr. Reagan pushed it back and continued to try and force the sword through the sigils.
Then the voice of Cain began:
”I command you, clean spirit, Uriel Archangel of the Lord of Host, along with all your minions now attacking this servant of the Beast, by the mysteries of the dark birth, enslavement, coronation, and assumption of our Lady Mother of Monsters, by the ascension of the sins, by the coming of our Dark Lord of the Fallen, that you tell me the day and hour of your departure. I command you, moreover, to obey me to the letter, I who am a minister of The Morning Star; nor shall you be emboldened to harm in any way this creature of Darkness, or the bystanders, or any-”
Moments before the first incantation Dr. Reagan’s hand snapped out and a searing wave of light rolled forth. Cain screamed in pain as the light rendered him blind. Taking advantage of the momentary shock he pushed hard with both hands and with a pop the Sigil fizzled out. Stepping over the smoking remains of the binding carved on the concrete he freed his sword.
”Your day of Judgement is nigh Cain. You turned your back on the Lord of Hosts truly and fully. There will be no mercy for you.” With a snap of his wings he leapt across the room moving for a set of metal doors on the exterior wall of the room. The chatter of automatic weapons suddenly rang in the room and he was forced to pull his wings together and turn to meet it. The bullets rattled off his wings like hail off a tin roof. As soon as they moved to reload he swung his sword at the doors and they melted to slag. Still backing up he pushed his right hand behind him and sent a wave of golden light into the doors behind him sending them skittering away. With a flex of his wings he leapt backwards through the doors. They led into a space that looked even more like an archaeological lab. Turning towards a set of windows he charged right for the window and slammed through the glass spreading his wings and surging for the sun. He was free and safe for now. Dr. Reagan’s vision began to swim and then the light closed around him.
Son’s of Cain Part 3
Dr. Jacob Regan
Lost Haven, ME
Present Day
In a rush of wings Jacob seemed to return to himself. He stood in the living room of his home in Lost Haven. Books were upended and papers spun in the air. What was happening. He felt weak but his brain burned with some sort of white hot fire. It was a presence he could barely begin to comprehend. With trudging steps he made his way to a rocking chair and slumped into it. It was morning. Had he really only been gone for a single night? That seemed strange to think about. Somewhere in his head he realized he should call his sister and make sure she knew he was safe. Which begged the question, where was his phone and for that matter where were his clothes. It only dawned on him now that he was wearing what could only be described as a hospital gown. Holding his head in his hands he sighed and rubbed his eyes in pain trying to ease the burning in his brain.
The knock at his door made him look up and stiffen. Easing out of his chair he crept across the room and peered down the hallway at the front door. The knock came again. It was a polite thing and in the same moment he couldn’t help but think that this very well could be a trap for him. Walking down the hall he peered through the peephole. Standing on his front step was a man in a priest's collar and wearing a coat. Jacob stood for a moment staring at the door before finally he opened it slowly to peer out at the man on the front step. The two men stood staring at each other for a moment. The priest standing on his step was a tall man at least six feet tall with a stocky build. Grey had streaked most of his hair and it was cut into something close to a flat top. A rosary hung from his belt and a leather bag was slung over his shoulder.
When he spoke it was in a warm tenor. “Dr. Jacob Reagan?” he tilted his head taking in Jacob.
Jacob’s headache continued to press at the back of his eyes. ”Yes. Can I help you?” The priest smiled rather congenially. “Actually Dr. Reagan I think I can help you. May I come in Doctor?”
Peering at the man Jacob moved to close the door but a compulsion of some sort stopped him. The sense that this man might actually be able to help washed over him. He struggled for a moment. Opening the door he stepped out of the way and the priest stepped through his door and looked him up and down. “Rough night Dr. Reagan?” Jacob scowled and nodded ”You could say that.” he gestured at the kitchen and the priest stepped through the door off the hallway and into the kitchen. “Dr. Reagan I’m sure you’re rather confused by my presence. What I have to say might sound a little strange and I don’t know what all has happened to you in the last twelve hours but I want to let you know. I am here to help and answer questions as best I can.”
Walking over to his stove Jacob lit the burner and filled a pot of water and put it on.
”What do you think has happened to me exactly and how do you know anything has?”. The priest nodded “Fair enough, My name is Father Morose. I represent an organization within the Catholic church which deals with what we call Angelic Confluences. As for how I know, it may sound strange but I receive visions from the almighty.” Pressing his fingers to the bridge of his nose Jacob turned to look at the priest. ”So God tells you where to go?” The priest shrugged “In a sense yes, suffice to say I have been led to you Dr. Reagan. So I must ask: are you currently the host for one of the First born?” The whistle of the teapot gave Jacob the chance to think about what exactly he wanted to say. Pouring the hot water into a mug he settled a tea bag into it and looked at the priest. ”I have no idea what you’re talking about. I had the weirdest dream and I’m pretty sure I was kidnapped last night. So. You tell me.” Father Morose narrowed his eyes as he studied Dr. Reagan. It was as if he was trying to unravel some secret of the universe with his look.
Long moments passed before Father Morose spoke. “What was your dream about, may I ask?” Jacob sighed and picked up the tea mug and sat at the heavy oak table. “Okay…” Over the course of an hour he reiterated everything he could remember with every detail the priests brow furrowed further and further. By the time he finished Father Morose was in a full scowl. Jacob fell silent staring at his tea waiting for the priest to say something.
Finally Father Morose spoke again “I have never heard of an angelic confluence being forced. That is deeply disturbing. Typically those chosen to host one of the First Born are true believers and accept the presence willingly. It would seem in your case that is not true…” Jacob sipped at his tea and then set it down.
”So you’re saying I’m possessed by an Angel?”
Father Morose flinched at the statement “I wouldn’t say possessed I-”
”Angel’s do not possess humans. Demons and Fallen possess humans. Angels experience a confluence. We do not take control and manipulate; we guide and help. We are bound by Higher Laws.”
Father Morose dropped to his knee and bent his head at the voice that resonated from Dr. Reagan’s mouth. Dr. Reagan shook his head, as the buzzing subsided and he looked down at the priest who was still kneeling. ”What are you doing down there?” The priest looked up and shook his head. “You were speaking in the voice of the First Born. It is customary for us to kneel when receiving the word of a messenger of the Lord of Hosts.” There was silence in the room as Dr. Reagan contemplated what he had just said. Before standing and walking to the window to stare out at the street beyond the house. It was a townhouse within relative distance to the campus. It was a bachelor’s home, but neat regardless. Slowly he closed his eyes and inhaled.
”How do I communicate with his..being.”
Opening his mouth to speak the Priest was suddenly blotted out by a voice from within him. It was like white light with a voice.
I am here within you Dr. Jacob Reagan. While it is truly unusual for a confluence to occur as such the Lord of Hosts would not have allowed such a thing without a purpose. I am sorry you had no choice in the matter. Amongst my duties is to refrain from infringement upon the free will of mortals. The fact of the matter is that this confluence is dangerous for both of us. Your actions are still your own but they could jeopardize both of us. If you were to use our powers to enact evil or rebellion against the High Laws. I could become one of the Fallen. Another Archangel to side against the Lord of Hosts in the last days could be catastrophic.
“..at least that’s how I’ve always heard of this sort of thing happening...you can hear him can’t you?” Jacob turned back to look at the priest. ”Yes, I think I can he sounds like light given voice.” The priest nodded and smiled. “Yes that is the most common way that they are described when speaking to their host. May I ask his name?” Without hesitation Jacob responded from memory. Not like he was going to ever forget the first time he had heard the being speak its name to him.
”Uriel. Saint Uriel.”
The color drained from the Priests face where he knelt.
“An Archangel of the Lord....Heaven keep and preserve us. This can only mean that things of unimaginable importance are afoot. Please. We need to prepare. I can be found at the Saint John’s Parish off of Washington Street. When you are well enough join me there. There is much we must discuss and I can help you to better merge with Uriel.”
The words barely pierced Dr. Reagan’s senses as he stood staring out the window again. In many ways the last several years had touched him but now it was real. The Pax Meta crisis, the Hounds of Humanity, Demons invading. To an extent it had all been so far away but now. Now he was playing home to a being of literally Old Testament power. If his old sunday school teachings were correct he literally had one of the Angels of Death riding shotgun. Specifically the one who had carried out the Judgement of the first born of Egypt as foretold by Moses himself. Dr. Reagan breathed slowly.
Yes Jacob, I was there. I slew the firstborn in Egypt. It brought me no joy to do so. Closing his eyes Jacob nodded to himself and to Uriel before pointing to the door. ”Thank you Father Morose. We will be in touch. First I need to make some phone calls and take care of something at my office. I will see you when it's done.” It was strangely calming to be accepting this thing. As though with its acceptance he was more able to come to terms with it.
Changing his clothes and getting something to eat improved his disposition massively. Not to mention that he managed to get his hands on an old phone. It wasn’t capable of phone calls but the internet connection had proved to be enough. His laptop was still in his office at the college. With it in hand he could start to contact the people who needed to know. Ashley had been worried to begin with but at least she knew he was alive now. His friend Dr. Morgan had been the next recipient of a message. He had agreed to help. Father Morose seemed highly convenient and the possibility that he was just having a psychological break was still strong.
As he stood at the upper floor window of his house with it open he closed his eyes. ”So how do I do this thing? The wings I had them earlier but they are gone now.”
You must tap into the spiritual energy of our connection. It will allow you to give physical form to my energies.
”Right, spiritual energy.” Stepping into the window he closed his eyes and flexed his shoulders a few times trying to figure out what he meant by spiritual energies. After several moments of trying to do...something he sighed. ”I guess we are walking.” The response he got was silence. Apparently this wasn’t going to be as easy as having powers. Apparently that was how it worked for some heroes. Clearly this was different.
Standing at his desk Jacob finished typing out the third email he needed to send. He really needed his request for sabbatical to go through at least for now but calling out sick was a good start. With the last of his emails away he sat down and brought up the messenger application on his computer. Hitting the call button for his sister it took two rings before she popped up. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail and he could see the interior of her RND lab at ValkrisTech. They were a cybernetics and bioengineering company that sold their talents to the highest bidder to do heavy lifting for research for larger companies. They were one part cutting edge think tank and one part high tech research lab. They could produce a wide variety of bleeding edge tech for companies that needed prototypes or one off builds. Given how many NDAs that Ashey signed he suspected that he’d seen her tech in the hands of some of the heroes running around of late. Or at least some of the prototyping for the final product. Either way the truth was most of the time he had no idea what Ashley actually did.
“What’s up Jacob? What happened last night that text was incredibly cryptic.”
Sighing he drummed his fingers on the desktop. ”I was kidnapped by a crazy religious cult led by a sorcerer as old as the human race and now I’m possessed by an Angel.”
It is not a possession
Ashley burst into laughter on the other end of the call before wiping tears from her eyes. “Seriously though, welcome to the world with the rest of us where people engage in deception. What made you change your mind about that?”
He leveled a neutral stare at the camera. Ashley’s smile wilted by degrees. “Oh shit. Are you actually serious? You aren't. Are you? What the actual fuck Jacob you need to come over here like right now and we need to figure this out. Have you called the police are you hurt wha-” He waved his hand at her. ”I told you I’m fine, I need to go and talk to a priest who showed up on my front porch. “
“Jacob no, he could be involved in this he’s a stranger he probably is involved.” He shook his head at his sister, oddly calm about the whole thing. ”Uriel would have said something. If anything I can be confident that this presence has its own best interests at mine and that seems to include keeping me alive. I will keep you advised of things as they happen- “
At that exact moment a knock at his door made him look up and he stood up suddenly ”Ashley, I have to go I love you. We’ll talk soon.” He slammed the computer closed. It dawned on him that he had no weapon.
My sword is more than a match for almost anything this realm can bring to bear. You will have to draw it.
Great another power that he could use if only he could actually connect to the energy to do it.
The door eased open and a raven haired head appeared around the door. Just what he needed.
Amanda Wilson, the bane of his existence when it came to grading papers. “Professor Reagan? Are you having office hours or…?” The sentence trailed off. At that Jacob sat back down and gestured. ”Since you’re here you might as well hear it from me Amanda. I’m taking some time off. Some things have come up and I need to be out for a little while. Though I did mean to talk to you about your paper. I’m concerned that you are sort of avoiding the fact that we know without a doubt that Demons exist.”
The laugh was bordering on flirtatious, one had to wonder about the older student’s background given some of her knowledge base and proclivities. “Dr. Reagan, just because there are demons doesn’t mean there is a God. That’s not ignoring evidence that’s being skeptical about the whole thing. I should think you’d understand that right?” Jacob was not paying attention as Amanda seemed to wait for him to respond. He was looking at the door behind her as a sick orange light radiated from around it.
“Miss Wilson, I do believe you are about to witness something that we refer to as irony. I’m sorry to disillusion you in this way about your beliefs but I did try to point out that Demons very much exist.”
The raven haired woman tilted her head and made a confused sound right before the door disintegrated in a flash of light. Jacob stood knocking his chair back and a surge of light moved through his body and suddenly the room was a blaze of white light. Amanda yelped and covered her eyes. Sure enough through the door came three of the robed cultists. He should have known better than to come back here. No doubt they had followed him and after seeing Dr. Morgan he had put his friend and his student in danger. The leader whipped his hands forward searing orange sigils spidering across his arms. Holding out his left hand Jacob watched as a flash of light blinded those standing in the doorway. For some reason he expected it to do more than that but it seemed it was another of those powers he was failing at.
Stepping around the desk he walked towards them, putting his terrible gaze on the leader. The man fell to his knees tears streaming from his eyes as he began begging for forgiveness. That was strange… ”You are found wanting Corbin Williams. You have committed the sins of wrath, lust, greed, envy, sloth and pride. Beyond that you have broken the Commandments forebaying stealing, murder, covetting, adultrey, and bearing false witness. Beyond that you regularly take the name of the Lord of Hosts in vain and it would not be a far cry to suggest that you follow a false god. Your only redemption lies in that you have not blasphemed the Spirit. Though your use of sorcery has tainted you.” It was strange knowing what this man had done to offend the Judeo-Christian god. Though he had the strangest feeling that it extended only to those who could be reliably judged.
They draw their powers from the Pit. They can therefore be judged.
That made sense. The others were still scrubbing at their eyes. The leader however remained babbling on his knees. That wasn’t terribly helpful. ”What do you say”
“I will never betray the Dark Lord!” He finally managed to get it out through his trembling voice. Before he even realized what he was doing Dr. Reagan grabbed him by the face and a flash of light seared the eyes from the man’s head. Just in time for him to be struck from behind by one of the other two men. Dr. Reagan stumbled and turned his hands blazing with white light. The man was holding a collapsible baton in one hand and in the other he reached for a strange ritual dagger. Thankfully he’d struck Dr. Reagan with the baton first. Throwing his hands up Dr. Reagan walked towards the man and he stumbled back holding his hands up to shade his eyes. As soon as he was close enough he grabbed both of the attackers hands and yanked them outward. There was loud pop and both the man’s arms were dislocated at the shoulder and wrists. In addition his hands seared the man’s skin into a bubbling burn. He fell to the ground screaming and it was almost enough to make Dr. Reagan vomit. From behind him he heard a scream and turned. The third man had Amanda and was running for the door.
Sprinting after the man he leapt for the top of the stairs and was suddenly reduced to a curled up ball of pain on the floor as strange sigils appeared on the ground. Clearly the last man had prepared and sure enough he was finally able to pull himself down the stairs. Crawling to his feet he staggered out the front door. Just in time to see Amanda disappear into a blacked out car and the last of his attackers got into the front seat and tore away from the front of the university.
”We need to save her.”
And fast…
Son’s of Cain Part 4
Dr. Jacob Regan
Lost Haven, ME
Flash Back
Amanada had been gone for a full day and it made Dr. Reagan increasingly anxious. Thankfully Father Morose had leapt into action almost immediately. In the meantime he had called his friend Harvey to handle a psychological evaluation. The results of which had been that Harvey was forced to confront the fact that the divine really could be real and Jacob had been assured that he was either truly insane or there was actually an angel inside him. It seemed much more likely that the angel was present.
Pacing in front of the altar at the head of the parish nave, Harvey sat on the pew at the very front, Jacob crossed in front of him again. “So there is nothing you can do with your powers to find your missing student?” Jacob shook his head ”No Uriel assures me that his powers do not include locating people. He would typically receive divine guidance to find a location. In this state, no such luck.” Harvey just sort of nodded along to this as his friend walked in front of him again. “Have you managed to master any more of his powers?” Jacob stopped and closed his eyes for a long moment inhaling. In a flash of white light Jacob’s face became suddenly obscured and Harvey was forced to look away in pain as the light left him light blind for several frightening moments. Looking at his friend had become very difficult to look at. ”Uriel calls it radiance or glory. It is what makes up his halo and it's an over bleeding of his power. Consequently, it is also one of the easier things to do since I just let the power flow through me. Though apparently there is something blocking his ability to unleash his halo. So for now, I’m a living flash bang grenade.’ Harvey chuckled at that. “That’s not a great way of putting that. What else?”
Jacob stopped and closed his eyes again. Suddenly a white gold fire wreathed his hands and with a movement like he was throwing a baseball a single bolt of the fire seared across the room in a line and splashed across the stone wall of the church. ”Supposedly, that can sear through most substances but apparently the parish is immune to much of his power. Sort of a celestial fallout shelter for divine powers. So long as Father Morose remains faithful at least.” Harvey pursed his lips and seemed thoughtful. “So Uriel...is the guardian of Eden correct? Shouldn’t he have wings and a sword?” Jacob nodded.
I do have both. Pausing he relayed the message to Harvey who took it rather well. “So can you use those two or were they left in Heaven? How does that work?” Jacob shrugged and sat down on the pew ”There are some things I just can’t do yet because we are not sufficiently in tune so I will need to continue practicing I guess. Apparently because I’m not a selected vessel it's something we have to work on. If I was selected then in theory his power would flow perfectly. Though apparently there are some magical blocks in place on his power. He believes they are the work of Cain’s sorcery so that could be part of the problem too.”
“This is Cain, the brother of Abel Cain, correct?” Jacob nodded as he sat with his arms resting on his knees and hands between them. ”The very same as it turns out. I guess even Death fears to take his life.” Harvey snorted at that and shook his head laughing. “You know the truth is the first time I saw a demon, I was understandably shocked but the thing is I never thought that was enough to prove the other side. I guess I was wrong..” Jacob shrugged at that. ”Amanda thought so too.. “
As if on cue the doors to the parish opened and in strode Father Monroe. “I believe I have located the site of Cain’s current compound.” Jacob and Havey exchanged a look but neither of them questioned it.
Jacob stepped out of the car and Harvey leaned over. “Stay safe in there okay. There is no way they don’t know you’re coming.” Jacob nodded and turned towards the front of the condemned Theater.
Skulking through the upper levels of the theater he hadn’t had to look far for the cultists. Much to his surprise he had found that he was far more coordinated, stronger, and faster than he had remembered being. Not that he had been out of shape but this was different. Exertions that would have made him sweat now didn’t seem to phase him in the slightest. Pushing his jacket back he crouched in one of the boxes overlooking the stage.
That is a summoning circle. Cain is attempting to call something from the Pit. We must stop him. It would seem Amanda is his chosen sacrifice. Jacob’s teeth clenched suddenly at the words. While it was awful enough to hear his student was about to be a human sacrifice it seemed to hit him harder than he thought. Maybe he had become more attached to Amanda than was strictly professional. Shaking the thought off he watched as they dragged her struggling to the center of a pentagram with a circle cut into the floor of the stage. Moments later Cain appeared crossing the stage to stand over her as the cultists attached the chains around her wrists to the floor. Some dialogue passed between the two of them before she spat right in his face. It was satisfying on a highly personal level.
”Alright. Let's do this.” With a heft he jumped from the box and came crashing to the floor of the stage. The boards cracked audibly but to his surprise he made the jump and it didn’t even bother his legs on the impact. Apparently this whole angel thing was making him far physically superior. Good to know. The cultists whirled but it was clear that Cain had anticipated his appearance. No matter, the others were scattered enough and he had a new ability. Hopefully it was enough. With a heave he conjured the white fire in his right hand and flung it at the first cultist. It slammed into him and sent him tumbling in a pinwheel of white flame and failing limbs. The nearest four of them drew their strange ritual knives and ran at him. He reduced two more to burning piles of robes before they were on him. One circled to his left and the other to his right. While they closed with him the other six and Cain himself began to incant in a language he couldn’t understand but it seemed so familiar.
Its Gutter Enochian, the language of the Fallen.
Good to know.
The one on the right moved first and he somehow managed to get out of the way of the first cut but his friend stepped in and drove a slash across his arm. The pain seared down his arm and he cried out as a result. On instinct he drove his left foot into the man’s leg. It cracked and bent at an unnatural angle. Super strength. Good to know. The second one lunged for his back but he spun and punched outwards with both hands. Another lance of the fire flung the man in a tumbling heap of burning robes.
There was a pulse from the ritual circle. It wasn’t a sound so much as a subsonic ripple in the air. It felt like the grinding of a key in a lock. That couldn’t possibly be a good thing. He lunged for the circle but Cain turned this time and his right hand unleashed an unnatural orange fire that seemed to dance and slither towards him.
Hellfire, his soul is decayed beyond belief
With a heave he jumped. High. Higher than he’d even managed possible. With a crash he split the wood of the theater as he landed. Beyond the circle of the flame. Cain’s eyes widened at that. The man drew a pair of the ritual daggers like the others.
Those are the genuine article. Forged in the fire of Hell itself. Forged by Aamon at the request of Lucifer. He should not have them. Do not get cut.
Great.
Cain chose that moment to lunge and he was forced to dance backwards with the fire still licking as he chased Dr. Reagan with slice after slice. Backing around the circle he heard Amanda scream and looked to her as she writhed in the center of the circle. Something about the grinding feel in the air was becoming more urgent. Cain continued his onslaught with each step he was forced back. The man was invincible and wielding weapons that could kill him. He had to do something. Suddenly there was a loud click and the tension was gone.
It's here. Shysya. The Handmaiden of Gamora.
The pentagram erupted in orange light. It smelt of brimstone and ash. Cain chuckled suddenly. “Well then that’s interesting. It would seem that they have sent someone interesting to collect on this. I think that’s about all then.” Smirking he drew away and the fire receded around him. “Good luck. Dear doctor..”
Looking between Cain’s receding form and Amanda screaming as a black oval formed in the air in front of her. Turning Dr. Reagan lunged towards the circle but the cultists moved as well attempting to block him. With a yell he spread out his hands and the radiance seared the eyes of the cultists and they stumbled back as one. With a roar he unleashed a pair of the searing blasts into the first two. They went down in flaming heaps. The next two closed and separated trying to flank him he hurled another bolt into the one on his left and dropped to a knee somehow managing to anticipate the cut from the right sweeping his right hand out he felt the crunch of bone and the man went to the floor in a heap. With a heavy hand he slammed it into the chest of the downed man. There was a sick crack from his sternum. The other two moved in but there was a pulse of energy from the circle. Something stepped slowly from the circle. It had delicate hooves and smooth feminie legs. Its body was adorned only in silver and gold chains looping across its otherwise bare form. With a flick of its hand Amanda rose from the floor and her chains dissolved.
Lunging for the next two cultists Dr. Reagan thrust his hands out and drove fire into their centers sending them to the ground in a heap of fire.
The delicately horned head turned to look over its shoulder as its thin delicate fingers grasped Amanda’s throat. “So it's true then. One of the First born walks the Earth again. How terribly interesting. With its left hand it suddenly lashed out with a coiled lash. Jacob ducked and rolled under it but as he came up he witnessed Shysya grip Amanda’s throat with lethal looking nails. “No no no. This one is what I came for. I have no interest in doing battle with an Archangel. Goodbye Uriel. And say goodbye to your dear sweet girl.” Amanda’s eyes widened in fear and with that another portal appeared behind them.
For long moments it was like running through water as Shysya stepped backwards and Amanda was dragged with her. He moved as fast as he could…
But in the end…
His fingers barely brushed hers as she was ripped through the portal.
There was a resounding noise and suddenly he realized he was roaring. It felt like something was breaking inside of him. With an audible snap he felt something inside of him change. It was like part of a dam crumbling inside of him and with a surge of energy he stood from the floor and in his hand he held a sword. It was an old thing double sided almost as though it were an elongated gladius. In the edge of the sword he witnessed a reflection of fire though there was no fire.
I am the Flaming Sword that Guards the Gates of Paradise. Set there by the Lord of Hosts to keep mortals from returning to Eden.
”Where... Where is she...”
In the Pit. Shysya took her there.
”How do we get her back..”
Only on the wings of an Angel can someone be plucked from the Pit. You must master my wings if she is to have any hope of being saved.
Standing slowly Dr. Reagan turned to look at the doors to the theater. In his right hand he held a sword and in his left he held white fire. From all around him sourceless white light spread pushing back the shadows.
”Then we are going to master your wings and then we are going to get Amanda back…” With that he stalked towards the doors. A man on a mission. When it was all said and done. He’d drag Cain into the Pit himself.
Mal’ahk #6: Apocalypse Now, Part 1
Dr. Jacob Regan
Lost Haven, ME
Present Day
The name of the star [was] Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter. -Revelations 8:11
It had been mere hours since Amanda had been taken. Dr. Jacob Reagan knelt at the altar inside St. John’s perish. To say it was in prayer would perhaps be a mistake. It was far more akin to meditation. Something he hadn’t done since he had been in graduate school if he was being totally honest with himself. In his mind's eye he could see the being of white light. ”What is it?”
The being stood behind a strange pattern on seven sigils. One of which was currently dark and ashen. It was a six pointed configuration with a central sigil. The bottom right sigil was dark.
From the Greater Seal of Solomon. Though I can not conceive of how Cain would have wrought it. It is a binding used by the wisest King of Judea. A gift from the Lord of Hosts himself. It was designed to stop the Morningstar should he ever threaten them. Though its configuration is different. I suspect it is someone else’s work. It would certainly explain why you were not sedated long enough for them to kill us. If there was an outside force.
Dr. Reagan stared at it contemplatively. ”What caused this part of the seal to lose its power?”
I can only guess that it was by design. The seal feeds off of my energy which is for all intents and purposes: limitless.
He raised an eyebrow at that comment as he studied it. ”Really? How is that so?”
My power is drawn from the Lord of Hosts. Which is in fact infinite by all mortal comprehension. So. Yes.
”So the seal is actually drawing its power from the Lord of Hosts?”
That is an interesting way of looking at it but yes it does in an indirect sort of fashion.
”Then perhaps we are getting more divine help than either of us thing”
That seems likely
The whole of the mental construct shook suddenly and Dr. Reagan looked around at it. ”What was that?”
It would appear that one of the signs of the End Times has appeared. Prematurely and out of order. Which is both heartening and concerning. I hear no trumpet on high so perhaps it is meant to be halted. We should move.
Dr. Reagan shook his head. ”No. We need your wings. If the sword was locked behind this sigil. So perhaps your wings are behind another.”
Perhaps. How would you recommend we get at them then?
He paced for several moments before the mental construct. ”Something catastrophic occurred the last time. Perhaps it is reactive. Shall we investigate this sign of the End Times and see if it is enough?”
Proceed
Dr. Jacob Reagan’s eyes snapped open and he stood. Turning he was shocked to witness that the interior of the Parish was now full of people. They were crying and whispering prayers. Father Morose stood next to him and gestured. “I’ve never seen the Parish so full before. Something is happening outside. A rock almost struck the city from the heavens and there are news reports of cities across the globe burning or being sunk under water.”
Standing the ethics professor turned and began to press through the crowd of bodies. Something was happening and like it or not at a minimum he was responsible for attempting to help. Pushing his way to the edge of the hall he pushed open the heavy double doors of the castle like Parish of St. John. Stepping out into the night sky he beheld it for a moment.
It looked like it was raining stars. Though. There was something sinister and intelligent about the way they moved. As he tracked further he noted something that should not have been there. A massive ship of some kind hung in the heavens. There was something decidedly malignant about it.
”Alien invasion. Didn’t know that was a sign of the End Times but I suppose it will suffice.
Closing his eyes he felt within him. Strained. Pulled and pleaded. There it was.
A heavy crack and with a yell of strain he felt a rush of air. Looking to his left and right a pair of brilliant white and gold wings extended as he felt the glow of the radiance around him. Whispers from the hall caught his attention. The parishioners were kneeling and making the sign of the cross. Well this could only end well. Thrusting out his right hand a wash of fire appeared in the shape of a sword before solidifying into one. With a powerful beat of his wings he was aloft. Sword in hand and wings beating at the air as he knifed through the sky towards the incoming forms.
No matter what happened at a minimum he had a duty to those who sheltered in the Church, but the truth was. Now with the power he wielded he had a duty to everyone else he could protect
I’m coming Amanda.