Pursuit of the Zodiacs (73 page)

Prometheus added, “They would be loyal to whomever would be brave enough to free them for a course of a thousand years. Who wouldn’t want Giants serving them in their army?”

Marcus said, “You’re right. In that case, it could be anyone.”

Over fifty heavily armed Archangels continued inward towards the belly of the tomb. They uncovered a trail of blood. Marcus ordered his Angel’s to inspect it.

Marcus asked, “Human blood?”

Lucas replied, “Most likely the blood of virgins.”

“They were led out. A sacrifice must have followed after. Most likely women. Some to bear more Nephilim abominations, and the rest consume. It’s deplorable,” Prometheus said.

Marcus, appalled, spoke, “My God, who has done this?”

Lucas answered, “Someone with an agenda, sanctioned by pure evil.”

Deeper into the tomb, they passed fleeing rodents and stepped over ancient bones. They found ripped Scrolls. The suspect set fire to the vital ones. They found more Scrolls and broken doors. As their lights cleared the darkness, they encountered strange ancient writings on the walls of the tomb, a language foreign to their Immortal tongue.

“What does it say?” one of the soldiers asked.

However, no one knew.

They felt the Earth slightly shaking beneath them. Marcus knelt down and touched the ground. “We are not alone. Some are still present. We need to move,” he warned.

During their confinement, the Giants developed a thirst for the blood of men; but Angel blood stood in a class of its own, and they wanted more. One of the soldiers heard heavy breathing coming from the shadows of a hall not too far from where he stood. “Brothers, my sacrifice will buy you time to escape, Godspeed!” Aware of his misfortune, he shot into the direction of the heavy breathing, and the light generating from his laser exposed the incoming Giants. The sight alone stirred other Archangels into firing upon the Giant beasts, but their weapons hardly slowed their movements. The Giants caught up with Marcus’s Archangels and parted limbs.

“We must retreat,” Marcus ordered.

They appeared everywhere, blocking all exits. The Archangels set eyes upon their releaser. A Vampeer sat calmly on one of the Giant’s shoulders.

“Stop, all of you!” Surrounded, they complied as the Vampeer descended from the Nephilim phenomenon.

Prometheus stated, “Of course, we should have known a Vampeer would be the one responsible for this.”

Lucas added, “Always seeking Immortality that will never come.”

“Most of you are already familiar with me. I go by the name Luther; and yes, I am a Vampeer working for the Lord himself.”

Marcus asked sarcastically, “Which Lord, Devil?”

Luther answered, “Insults even in the presence of death. I admire that. However, if it will bring clarity towards your end, so be it. Some of you don’t have to die here. I
am giving you an option, or let’s say an opportunity. Join Bishop, and you will live to see a new future when time dies and Eternity emerges.”

Lucas said, “So Bishop has partnered with the Vampeers for an advantage? How am I not surprised?”

Luther answered, “Your ruler’s days are numbered, along with Lucifer, and any other god in our path. I make this offer to you. Join us, and be free.”

Marcus replied, “Never, I would rather humbly accept death.”

Luther shrugged his shoulders. “So be it. I am not here for games, Archangel.”

Luther gave two of his Giants the okay to eliminate his disapproving rival.

Despite his rank, Marcus, the Master Archangel, issued no contest for the two Giants as they tore into his flesh and ate his remains in front of his men.

After bringing forth torment, Luther renewed his offer to the others. “Does anyone else want to humbly accept death? I assure you, it is not quite what it’s cut out to be. Ha-ha.”

The Giants continued feasting on Marcus, their commander, in front of them. A few of the Archangels changed heart. They surrendered their weapons. Only Lucas, Prometheus and a few other Archangels held their positions.

During the verbal clash between Marcus and Luther, Lucas noticed an opening in a wall down the hallway, and knew the Giants couldn’t pass through it. He signaled those around him, and they waited on his word.

Luther spoke to those who had steadfastly refused to join him. “So, it is settled. It seems that there is no other way to change your minds, so you must die. Farewell.”

“Come!” Lucas shouted as he tossed a poisonous smoke grenade in the air towards the Giants. It exploded and gave off a great flash shortly blinding all those exposed to its impact. Seconds later, coughing ensued and their eyes burned.

They trailed Lucas down the hall while placing their protective masks over their faces before the poisonous gas reached ground level.

The beasts gave chase through the toxic atmosphere like lions chasing gazelles, removing the slow and the weak. The cries of those captured encouraged the rest to move faster. They dared not look back, lest it slow them down.

“ADAM!”

Daniel shouted. He saw Adam soaring overhead on his Supernatural Carpet near demolished skyscrapers. “What’s going on? Where’s Abdeen and the rest?” he asked.

Just as Daniel finished his questions, Abdeen appeared on his godlike Chariot pulled by two giant Lions of Fire. He descended at a safe distance so the heat didn’t cause any misfortune. They both looked distressed, as if they had lost something. Since the genesis of this mission, their wings displayed whitish gold. Now, Abdeen’s wings were as dark as the night itself. Darkness plagued even the most trusted Archangels; but nonetheless, they remained devoted to their mission.

“What’s troubling you, Brethren? Where is Abdeel?” Goliath queried.

Abdeen promptly updated his fellow Pursuers on what happened. “My apologies to you both. This is unfortunate news to us all.”

Both Abdeen and Adam detected Lucille as she approached.

Surprised, Daniel said, “We thought you had departed. No fault would have come to you if you had. You should have gotten as far away from here as possible. Things are only going to get worst.”

“No, what happens here determines the outcome of this whole Universe. Who am I not to be a part of it, even if I must see death? However, I have returned with some news. The Dark Graduates have broken their alliance with Lucifer,” Lucille reported.

Daniel replied, “Are you sure? How do you know this?”

Lucille answered, “I still have some influence and powerful friends on the inside that have appreciated my years of service to them, unlike some others. Noah, our leader has broken his alliance and declared war on Lucifer.”

Goliath asked, “What changed their minds?”

Lucille answered, “I’m not sure, but they’ve killed and hanged a Demon Master Arch who used to go by the name Nicholas. Moreover, they’ve killed hundreds more onboard their ship. That should bring enough assurance.”

Daniel said, “Ahh, Nicholas … we knew him very well. He used to be one of us, another traitor to our kingdom.”

Lucille continued, “Unfortunately, good news must come with its bad. Lucifer had the Children of Time eliminated.”

Adam replied, “These Devils are such cowards! Killing adolescents? We must eradicate them all!”

The news hit Adam the hardest, and he left the scene in search of more Demons to eliminate.

“Where is he going?” Lucille asked.

“Trouble him not. This night has fallen to its pillars. He can take care of himself. It will take a complete miracle to restore order in this place,” Abdeen answered.

Daniel said, “It is up to us to bring forth such a miracle, Brother, by any means. We must not give up.”

Goliath said, “Children of Time? What would be the result of their death?”

Lucille answered Goliath, “Nothing to you Immortals, but a huge dilemma to man. You stop time … man cannot age. It would be as if we were Immortal too, almost gods. I must admit, despite the pleasure of knowing I will live forever, time brings balance and meaning to life; and it is a fair warning to us all that each day should not be wasted. Besides, we don’t want the ones controlled by Devils to share such a gift. So I’ll come to terms with having an expiration date.”

Daniel replied, “I see Lucifer’s strategy and the importance of making an alliance with the Dark Graduates. Only they knew the whereabouts of the Children of Time. Once the Children of Time are out of the way, the Dark Graduates would serve no more purpose to them, and eventually he would have them eliminated.”

Goliath asked, “Wait a minute. If they were all slaughtered, wouldn’t it be a too late for the Dark Graduates to have a change of heart?”

Lucille replied, “Unless one of the Children of Time survived the attack, or else was fortunate enough to be absent at the time.”

“Incoming!” They heard Adam’s voice in the distance, as they watched him running in their direction. Judging by the Demon blood on his attire, he had been in a long, hard, fight. Over a dozen Demons gave chase and fired upon them.

“Take cover!” Daniel shouted as they separated. Lasers ricocheted off of Adam’s crystalized impenetrable skin, but his fatigue caused it to transition back into humanoid form.

Abdeen broke the golden chains and released the two Lions of Fire from his Chariot. They trampled Demons underfoot, mauled and devoured them. At the same time, Abdeen gave aid, mercilessly chopping a few down with his elemental flaming sword.

Lucille fired in an alleyway full of fiends, disintegrating pieces of flesh on impact.

Daniel summoned a ghost funnel, which twisted and decapitated every Demon in its path. It vanished into a wall, leaving it stained with blood. Drained of his energy, he took cover behind a parked van.

“Impressive, but you’ve exerted too much energy for that technique,” Goliath playfully mocked as he smashed some Demons with his new sledgehammer axe. It took only a few moments to completely dissect the small Demonic fleet.

“Ok, let’s move East,” Abdeen ordered.

After overhearing their conversation about the Children of Time, Capricorn unleashed a swarm of Dead Rising. “Get the woman. She will take me to my cousin. Make sure no harm comes to her!”

“You were warned to stay out of my way, there is nothing I can do for you.” He unleashed his swarm of Dead Rising upon them.

“Damn you, boy!” Goliath charged and met him in combat. They exchanged gifts while the rest fought with the dead.

“Thank the Heavens, Remiel, Brother. You’re here,” Virtues greeted Remiel and the rest of his fleet shortly after their arrival. They saw the Cathedral under construction and heavily guarded by well-equipped Archangels of different origins.

Remiel replied, “Yes, good to see you too, Brother. Is Elizabeth all right? Was her passage a safe one?”

Virtues answered, “Yes, she is doing well. She’s expecting you in the Cathedral. Its well-being has been verified. It is safe to enter.”

Remiel entered the Cathedral with his group of Archangels. They unfastened their armor and placed it on a table along with their special weapons, but kept it within eyesight. They rested and merged with the other Archangels present. One lay down by the fountain, while another added more wood to a fireplace nearby to stay warm. Remiel went to have a word with the pending Pope.