Jack's Back ((Ascension: Book 2)) (12 page)

Ugly is only Skin Deep

Jack took his chair and waited patiently. All of the planning was about to pay off or belly-flop based on what information the pig came back with.

He wondered why his horns had grown at the sight of Lucifer. It must have had to do with the anger that rose in him
like an earthquake triggered tsunami. It was merely an outward manifestation of that anger.

He was really upset about the hooves. He'd just spent a lot of time breaking those bastards off and they regrew in seconds.

He reached up and tugged on his horns. He thought about ripping them from his skull again but he decided against it. Who cared if anyone saw him for what he was? He was over all of that now.

Just as he formulated that thought, Dick-eyes came walking from the kitchen with a wood saw
, the same one he'd used on the horns during his first day on earth.

Jack waved him off saying, "I'm done hiding. It's time to fight."

Dick-eyes quivered and then turned towards the kitchen again. If Jack didn't know any better he'd say Dick-eyes seemed proud of his decision.

Jack stood up and tore off his clothes with a flourish. Now he felt better; less confined and less phony.

Just as he was about to take his seat, the pig and its little bat-mobile escorts arrived.

Poor, Delusional Child?

Melanie cleared her throat loudly from the doorway to Jessie's room. She'd drank just enough for her thoughts to loosen and come unraveled and now she had more questions for the boy. They were insane questions; questions only a delusional person would ask, or someone very drunk and very confused.

He sat up in bed. He didn't appear sleepy or groggy
even though it looked like he was in the middle of a nap. In fact, it looked like he hadn't been asleep at all.

Melanie sat on the edge of his bed and stared into his eyes.

"I have one question for you, and I think I deserve the answer."

"Ok."

"Are you God?"

"Yes."

"Fuck."

She stood on wobbly legs and left the boy again. Then she peeked her head back in and said, "Is there a reason for all of this nonsense?"

"There is Melanie. I'm sorry you were deceived."

"I ought to ground you for this shit."

She slammed the door and decided right then to slam the rest of the vodka.

She'd signed up for some crazy stuff in the past but none of what she'd done
should have led her to this bizarre scenario. Her Jack was newly released from his hellish bonds, Lucifer had taken his identity and resumed his life, and now God was hiding out in Jack's son.

She inched the child's door open one more time and asked, "Were you always God or did you take over Jessie recently?"

Jessie was getting uncomfortable with her constantly barging in and asking more questions but he seemed to compose himself before answering.

"The ritual that was performed during my conception, the one that gave Lucifer access to the earth realm, released me into this child. I was born this way."

"Why?"

"I can't risk telling you that."

"Is that right? Well check this out."

Melanie walked into the room and unplugged Jessie's TV. Then she disconnected his game systems and as she was walking out with them in her arms she said by way of explanation, "If you're God and you've been tricking me this whole time, then this is your punishment: No more video games.

"And if you're lying to me about being God then I'm also taking away your game and TV privileges because your imagination is going haywire. I sure hope it's just your overactive imagination Jessie or you're never getting any of this stuff back."

Jessie simply nodded and smiled as she closed the door for the last time.

Unrequited Desires

Lucifer had
made a quick run to the nearest gas station to pick up some grub for his captive. He'd warmed up a frozen burrito and a cheeseburger in the microwave in the church break room.

He didn't know what she liked so he'd grabbed a little of everything. It only dawned on him as he made his way downstairs that he hadn't considered whether she was a vegetarian or not. Maybe she had allergies?

Why was he so worried about whether she'd like it or not? He only had to keep her alive long enough to attract a stray angel or two and then, once the angel took the bait, she would be useless to him.

But the thought of disposing of her upset him. Only then did he realize that he was being influenced by God's stupid fucking prophecy. But he wasn't going into a rape rage simply because he hadn't been a real angel in a very long time. No, she was affecting him on a more subtle level.

He'd planned on taking the food inside the locked bathroom and sitting down to speak with the girl, maybe find out a little more about her, or about Jack, but this new epiphany scared him enough that he simply shoved the food across the floor, yelled, "Eat up girl," and quickly slammed the door shut.

He couldn't let
his newfound lust or cravings or even fledgling love sidetrack him. He just knew he was close to getting what he wanted and he'd be damned if some dumbassed prophecy derailed him now that he was almost at the payoff end of all of his scheming and manipulating.

He caught himself standing at the door trying to listen for movement from within and he had to force himself to walk away.

He had to get ready for some serious sermons over the next few days. He hoped it wouldn't end up being a marathon but he was ready for it if that was the case. There was just no way to know when the angels would come for the girl but he knew he had to be in the middle of a sermon when it happened.

Pigs Fly

The pig was shivering but Jack couldn't wait for him to warm up. He needed to know right away whether the mission was a success.

The bat-mobiles all lit up like road flares. They burned with an unreal intensity for several seconds and when the light from each went out, the bats were gone. Jack knew that could only mean one thing, the bats had served their purpose.
They'd done what they were meant to do and now they'd returned to hell. That sent a surge of euphoria through him. If they'd done what they were here to do then the mission was fruitful.

The pig explained as much in his grunting, snorting way.

Jack discovered where Lucifer had taken Shelly and he was a little surprised that he'd taken her to a church. Was Lucifer working with God now? No way. Lucifer had relayed his hatred for God to Jack right before Jack released him from hell, and although Lucifer had proven he could not be trusted since then, Jack felt the fallen angels fury when he spoke of his Father. It must be a trick then? But what?

Jack
bent down and kissed the pig on top of its pink head. The pig snorted and then it was engulfed in the same blinding light that had taken the bats. In a second, it was over and the pig was no more.

Jack considered the possibilities and then threw them away as inconsequential. Fuck the worrying, he thought, I've got an angel to kill.

Dick-eyes climbed up on his head and awaited orders.

Jack said, "Get that fucking Goatraffe
and find Mr. Pickles. Also, let the tiger out of the bathroom. Then let everyone know that the time is now.

Dick-eyes jumped to the floor and scurried off
excitedly.

Jack picked up his shredded, discarded pants and rifled through the pockets. He came out with the shiny metal death ball.

He let it float an inch above his hand. He willed it to move about like an angry hornet, careening this way and that. It's real power was still somewhat dormant so he could only hope he found a way to unlock it's full potential by the time he faced Lucifer. He'd need all the help he could get.

The Payoff

Lucifer addressed his flock. They faced, him mesmerized, like
adolescents hearing their first campfire tale.

"It is upon us right fucking now. The horses are being bridled and shoed by their four horsemen as we speak. For those not chosen, fire will consume them all. And that's only the beginning of the torments that await. You can easily escape even the most excruciating pain in life by simply dying, but in the afterlife, there is no getting away from it."

There was a crashing noise as the twin doors to the church were thrown open. A sex starved angel burst through and looked around, wild eyed.

He didn't recognize Lucifer and he didn't seem to notice the hundreds of sets of eyes upon him at first.

He dashed forward and bumped into a parishioner. His eyes came into focus and he looked around with clarity for the first time. He mumbled an apology and sniffed the air just to be sure he was in the right place. Then he took a seat to try and blend in.

Lucifer knew he was only playing along until all of the parishioners cleared out. Then he would resume his hunt for Shelly.

Lucifer's heart thundered within the confines of his chest. He would love nothing more than to take the angel apart, piece by wet piece, but he had to restrain himself.

The angel was his unwitting ally.
He tried his hardest not to smile as he spoke.

He said loudly, "Welcome brother.
I know why you are so frantic. The apocalypse is cresting the horizon as we speak and we are here to make ready for it."

The angel looked at Lucifer, still failing to recognize the grandest of all God's creations, and smirked.

He said, "I think I would know if the apocalypse was triggered. What makes you think you know more than me?"

"I have heard it from the source."

"God does not speak to you. You are misguided and foolish."

An audible gasp reverberated around the cavernous room but Lucifer held his hands up to instill quiet among his followers.

"I did not hear it from God. I heard it from the enemy."

The angel gave a muted snort of derision.

Lucifer continued, "The enemy has taken the throne. He has lost all patience. The apocalypse is his birthright and he now knows it. Doom upon those who pay no heed."

The angel stood and glared after Lucifer. "The throne remains vacant. The enemy still cowers. You know not what you speak."

Lucifer knew there was no way for the angel to know what was happening in hell, so he was only guessing.

He said firmly, "The enemy cowers no more. He tires of scheming and waiting. He thirsts for pain and revenge against his father. The power shift will be swift and unforgiving to those who have chosen the wrong allegiances."

He knew that last part would pique the angels curiosity. The angels had always been ambiguous about their allegiances. They were a fearful bunch, afraid of backing the wrong horse or stepping the wrong way.

The angel
said, "If the enemy has spoken to you, tell me what he calls himself."

"He is ruler of hell, the king of all angels and now the king of all the fallen."

The angel whispered, "Shit."

Lucifer laid it on thicker. "He amasses his army as we speak. We can hope only for the Rapture to save the souls of those undeserving of his torments."

The angel didn't reply or even acknowledge what was said. He had a faraway look in his eyes.

Finally he said absently, "We knew there would be a messenger, but we thought it would be a messenger sent from God, not the other guy. This is bad. What is your name sir?"

"The messenger has no name of consequence." Lucifer made this part up on the spot, hoping it sounded as ominous to the angel as it did to him.

"Yes. Of course. Thank you."

The angel turned on his heals and walked to the doors. He sniffed the air one last time for his quarry but he knew his true mission now was to inform God of the approaching apocalypse.

Lucifer prayed he could find God and he prayed God would listen.

Dick-eyes is Awesome

Jack studied his minions. How the fuck was he going to take out the mightiest creature ever created with this ragtag gathering of dumbass misfits?

He sighed and shook his head. He turned the death ball about in his large hand but the ball's
true power hid from him still.

Dick-eyes must have sensed his frustrations because he separated from the group. He looked up at Jack with his soulful eyes and then he started to quiver. Before long he was shaking uncontrollably at Jack's hooves.

Jack took a step back to better witness what was going on with his faithful servant. The spider had many tricks up its sleeve but Jack wasn't remotely prepared for this latest one.

Dick-eyes' exoskeleton cracked at the seems and fell away in large, black chunks. Beneath was a red arachnid, shiny with pus and blood.

Then the spider did two things at once. It grew exponentially in size as its shape morphed. Two of its front legs snapped upwards and flattened out against its abdomen. It's spider's snub-mouth elongated into a snout. Its course hairs fell to the floor, shed like a dog's winter coat.

Still it quaked as it grew. Scales formed upon the surface of its
raw skin and hardened before Jack's eyes.

It continued to grow despite the fact that the room and its occupants were getting more and more cramped.

The other creatures had backed up but there was no more room for them so they'd decided to go into the kitchen.

The Goatraffe spat on the floor disgustedly. God, Jack hated that motherfucker.

Dick-eyes was at least five times the size of Jack by the time he realized what it was morphing into. Only then did he understand that Dick-eyes would need more room to grow.

Jack started to take the room apart with his bare hands
to make space. He crashed into the walls to take them down. He smashed the doorframes to pieces with deft swings of his fists. He stamped the floor with his immense hooves.

The floor
finally gave out and they both fell into the basement. Dick-eyes oversized mass cracked the cement floor of the basement where he landed.

Jack
jumped to his feet and took out each wall in the basement in quick succession.

He didn't know if any of it was necessary, if the constriction would limit or even hurt his friend, but it was the logical thing to do to maximize growth while ensuring Dick-eyes
' safety.

Finally he used his horns to destroy the
outer cinderblock walls. He was barely working up a head of steam when it was all over.

The creature that used to be his small weird spider
buddy was now a behemoth of hellish proportions. The creature still had those soulful eyes but the dick had vanished. It was unlike a dragon only in the conventional sense.

It wasn't majestic or beautiful but Jack felt its newfound power electrify the room. It was mottled black and a deep crimson
, just like Jack. Its wings were thick and rubbery. Its feet were each as long as a man and webbed for some stupid reason, maybe to help it steer in the air, like a rudder. Its scales were large and metallic looking.

It was a sight to behold and Jack's breath caught in his throat.

But then Dick-eyes did something he hadn't expected. He looked at Jack, winked knowingly, and then blasted him with flaming dragon breath.

Jack tried to run but there was nowhere to go. The heat felt like it was burning off his very soul. The agony was so much worse than anything he'd ever felt before.

But that wasn't right. The agony reminded him of hell. The dragon was scorching him with hellfire.

Jack's agonized brain had no more time for conjecture, he just had to get away before the fire destroyed him.

He scrambled towards the remnants of the staircase but the dragon stepped on him and held him to the ground with its huge foot. Jack was helpless against its might. The dragon burned him for what seemed like an eternity.

Jack's thoughts slipped in and out of reality. His soul longed for the sweet release of death but it didn't arrive.