Pursuit of the Zodiacs (70 page)

The Pope commented, “Don’t tell me you’re picking up where Dracuul left off? You’re bringing back good and unfortunate memories, Ecor. Nevertheless, as far as staying out of my way goes, make sure you do just that … and hurry. I promise, the night will only get worse for you and your followers if you prolong your visit.”

Ecor said, “Ungrateful indeed. I saved your life, but you give me threats. Ha! Things will never change with you, Pope. I have my own mission to fulfill back in my time. We will be out of your hair soon enough. Good luck restoring order here. You’re going to need it.”

They parted ways towards separate agendas, uncertain of who remained in an unbalanced city.

Chapter 32

DEATH IS ONLY THE BEGINNING

“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy.”

— L
UKE
10:19

“I
have one more service to ask of you before your promotional ceremony, Grenad.” Before liberating the remainder of his most trusted five Master Archangels, Bishop had met with Grenad and Zacharia.

Bishop continued, “Enter that Dimension and eliminate all those who remain.”

Grenad, too wise to display his anger, calmly accepted his next assignment. Bishop kept putting off his investiture as a Master Archangel, and he grew tired of the postponements.

They boarded their spacecraft. Grenad led his group into the Dimension.

Grenad said, “As if I haven’t done enough!”

“Easy, comrade. Do not let your men hear you utter such frustration. However, I completely understand,” Zacharia replied.

Grenad said, “Let’s make haste through the mist of this Dimension and run down whatever’s left of the enemy.”

Zachariah said, “Spoken like a true Master Arch. You will seize your rank, Brother, and obtain power never before seen.”

Safely inside their reinforced ship, it wasn’t long before they shared the same sky with alien entities. They resembled dinosaurs with huge beaks and a wingspan half the size of their craft flying alongside. One scanned their craft, lost interest and departed, leaving Grenad and his team to their digression.

“This Dimension is massive. It’s almost as if we’re in a completely new World. It could take days, even weeks or months, before we find them. Perhaps they’ve already fallen victim to the beasts here. Surely Bishop must have known this,” Grenad said. His frustration soared because of the enormity of their new assignment.

“You’re right. I underestimated this place. It’s been quite a while since I’ve tread through here. We must take all necessary precautions, or we’ll meet the same fate as them.”

They hovered over the surface, carefully scanning the swamps and woods for their enemies. As midnight approached, they decided to land their craft and patrol on foot to investigate a cave.

“Damn, I guess we must earn it after all. Prepare for landing,” Grenad instructed.

They landed on a clear field, out in the open, free from any threats. Grenad dispatched over a hundred heavily armored Archangels, equipped with high-powered lasers. The Archangels reported a weird scent in the air unbearable to most. It stung their eyes and skin. Grenad gave them orders to put on their gas masks along with their precision goggles.

They organized a search of the vicinity. As they searched the woods, they marked strange eyes lurking in the darkness. Just as curious, a few of the creatures advanced, exposing their true forms. Similar to a velociraptor, but seven feet in size, and each revealed three eyes.

“What do you make of them?” one of the Archangels asked.

“Hybrids. Take caution,” another replied.

Grenad’s men lacked the required training for this habitation. In fear, they fired upon them, which only angered the beasts, bringing forth more atrocities. The enormity of their numbers broke Grenad’s front line.

Grenad watched his front line fall apart from within the spacecraft. “I’ve had enough of this. Let these beasts feel the firepower from our craft.” Grenad paced towards the control room.

Zachariah interjected, “Wait, won’t you hit our own men?”

Grenad didn’t care. He accused his men for needlessly provoking the beasts. “Their sacrifice will not go without reward.”

Zachariah replied, “Hold on, Brother. Think this over. I highly doubt Bishop would accept any of this. Is your impatience for that promotion clouding your judgment to the point where you will slaughter your own men?”

Grenad said, “Look who’s talking? You wouldn’t be where you are today, Zachariah, without cutting corners at least once.”

Zachariah ordered the soldiers present in the room to leave so they could continue their argument in private.

Zachariah continued, “I cannot believe this shit. While we waste time arguing with one another, our men are being consumed alive by those … those things!”

Grenad agreed, “Yes, and you’re to blame. Your hesitation is prolonging the suffering of our men. I could’ve ended this threat already!”

Disgusted, Zachariah said, “This is madness. You are not in your right mind to lead this campaign. We have not found our initial target, and already we are facing the threat of complete annihilation. I’m sending a communication link to Bishop right now!”

Zachariah moved toward the communication console, but Grenad beat him to it. In front of the communication console, Grenad exposed his hands. Well aware of Grenad’s gift, Zachariah kept his distance.

Zachariah spoke, “So, it has come to this?”

Grenad replied, “Yes, Brother.”

The word “Brother” infuriated Zachariah. By the press of a button, Zachariah unsheathed his two-handed special sword and drove it toward Grenad. So incensed, he inaccurately swung the sword, completely missing his intended target as Grenad stepped aside. The sword cleaved the communications console in two, destroying it. Deeply embedded in the console’s steel frame, he pulled at his sword, but he could not get it loose. He left the sword lodged in place while Grenad charged.

Grenad took a weird combat stance and thrust his hands in Zachariah’s direction. “There’s nothing you can do against my hands of death, Zachariah! Haah!”

Zachariah kept dodging the thrusts. “I wouldn’t rejoice so soon. Those hands have yet to meet flesh.”

“YOU’RE ALL GOING TO PAY FOR THIS!”

Feud forewarned the others as he and Dearth retreated into the Underworld.

Remiel and his group joined their colleagues.

“Brother! What a way to reunite again!” Remiel shouted as he embraced both Daniel and Goliath.

Daniel responded, “It’s good to see you, too. But these days I must ask, what brings you here, Remiel?”

Remiel answered, “I understand. We are on a secret campaign as well, although yours isn’t much of a secret any longer. We are to meet Virtues at another location.”

Goliath asked, “Virtues? He’s here as well?”

Remiel answered, “Yes, big man. Best of luck on your campaign, Brothers. However, we cannot idle here any longer.”

Before they left, Daniel asked Remiel, “Have you seen a woman during your travels? She had on a Dark Graduate symbol.”

Remiel replied, “Yes, I told her it would be in her best interest to leave. This is a war between Devils, Archangels and Gods. We have come upon a cycle that doesn’t include Mortals anymore. If she strikes some importance to you, and you see her again, advise her to stay far away from here. It will only get worse as the night progresses.”

Remiel left them to reflect. No one responded to their communication devices, so they would have to locate the rest of The Pursuers with another method. They used their ears as compasses and followed the sounds of conflict in the sky.

“THAT’S THE LAST OF THEM.”

Virgo, Aries and Taurus finished ridding the street of Capricorn’s Dead Rising minions. They had not the slightest idea where the Pope, Pisces or Scorpio resided due to the confusion in the city. So, they headed out for answers. They ordered the Dark Graduates to scan the perimeter, and they reported suspicious behavior.

“As if this night hasn’t been fucked up enough!” Taurus replied.

The Dark Graduates found a massive sinkhole to the North, not too far from their location.

Virgo had only one thought: “Capricorn?”

Taurus said, “It’s certainly possible. There’s excessively more damned here than the living. I’m sure he’s regrouping. That little bastard must be stopped.”

Both assumed wrong. The Dark Graduates reported thousands of Lucifer’s soldiers surfacing from the sinkhole. Among them was Guardian Demon Archangel Troy. His Demon Train deployed hundreds more.

“Isn’t this a pleasant surprise?” Taurus joked as he welcomed Troy.

Troy said, “By strict orders from the Dark Lord himself, I must take the remaining Zodiacs to the Great Pyramids of the Sun and Moon.

Aries said, “I am not going anywhere without my Son.”

Troy ignored her. “How many Zodiacs are in the vicinity?”

“There’s the three of us: Capricorn, Scorpio and Pisces. But I’m afraid Capricorn has yet to see the Scroll,” Virgo said.

Troy asked, “Where’s the Scroll?”

Taurus replied, “It doesn’t matter who has the Scroll. They have made their choice. We will have to cope with the numbers we have.”

Troy said, “I see. I’ve implemented a special team to gather the remaining Zodiacs. You three board the train.”

Two red beams moved along Troy’s chest and onto his forehead, but were without fire. Aries approached Troy with fire in her eyes. “You must not have heard me the first time, Devil. I am not leaving this place without my Son! Take that news however you want. Next, I will be adding fire to those beams.”

Troy looked unsteady as he asked, “Where is your Son? I will have some of my soldiers safely escort him back here. But first, you must get onboard the train, please.”

Virgo answered, “He is located at the Pope’s underground stronghold, just West of here, a short distance away.”

“The streets are too dangerous for a normal escort. I will get the boy myself,” Oseem, a Demon Master Archangel, stepped forward. Well-respected, and quite dangerous, he once had four arms, but two were removed courtesy of Remiel during an old heated encounter. “I will go to the Pope’s underground stronghold and retrieve the boy. Maybe, I’ll even come across Remiel.”