Rapture Falls (30 page)

             
McCullum waded through the reports, Superintendent Irving had cleared his way through the red tape allowing him to gain access to all of the information gathered about the murder in Port Talbot, and he ignored the bitter stares of the investigating team who were clearly annoyed at his very presence in their offices.
He had quickly gotten over his shock at
Irving
’s revelations as it now seemed foolish in the extreme to believe that Gabriel’s influence would not have extended as far and wide as he required without effort.
The early reports suggested that the cause of death was from massive trauma inflicted by an unknown assailant possibly animal in nature as indicated by the size, shape and depth of the wounds
inflicted;
McCullum knew
instinctively
that this was the work of a Reaper. After his meeting with Gabriel he felt stronger and sharper than ever before, the usual aches and pains in this insufferable dank weather had retreated and he felt as though he was eighteen again with the energy and vitality of an
athlete
. It would appear that the Grigori were hot on Baines trail which put them ahead of the game, McCullum could not be sure that Baine had not been either killed or taken by the Reaper, but yet somehow he did. He had walked through the crime scene alone much to the irritation of the investigating officers, he had closed his eyes and he could suddenly see the past, it ran through his mind in a strange green light as though he was looking through a pair of infra red goggles, he could see the poor landlord, he could see the Reaper and for the first time he could see Baine. He had to admit to himself that he was somewhat disappointed, Baine appeared to be just a man, he had built him into some mythical creature, brawn of stature astride the world, yet here he was an ordinary and unremarkable man, shorter and narrower than himself. Suddenly the green movie sprang into violent action, McCullum found his first disappointing impression erased as Baine moved with impressive speed and agility coupled with remarkable strength
, the
sheer
suddenness that he
had been able to
despatch the Reaper demanded respect. McCullum was finding himself warming to the man when he watched Baine standing over the dead landlord smiling at the mans demise, the cruelness of his stare and the delight in his eyes caused a painful stab of anger deep in his gut, his father was right about the betrayer and he cursed himself for ever forgetting.
McCullum was sat at an empty and unused desk amidst the working detectives whispering and nudging each other like schoolboys,

“Yo
u know I may be five feet away
from you guys but sound does actually travel through the air now, read a book once in a while you fucking mugs and you might learn something” McCullum said this aloud whilst never looking up from the paperwork that he poured over, the noises stopped and the silence was packed with tension which McCullum ignored effortlessly, he was now above these creatures
.
The last reel of guest house movie had shown Baine searching the internet and printing off some literature, McCullum had checked the computers search history, there were several medical sites, some insurance sites and a search for St Davids and its cathedral history, McCullum checked for a google map printed off directions and headed out, he had his trail
and he followed his prey.

             
Lucifer stared out of the window as the countryside blurred by, for all of their abilities it was still sordidly embarrassing to have to rely on vehicular conveyance as a means of transport, if their pawns could see them now then it shatter the carefully constructed cloak of superiority that she wore so vainly. They had travelled through the heavens and across the mortal world shaking mortal men to their very core with exhibitions of power and strength and yet here the Grigori sat doing sixty five miles an hour in the back of a seven seater Toyota Verso procured for the journey.
She had begun to feel increasingly frustrated
and angry, impatience radiated through her pores and she felt herself beginning to relish the onset of a sensation regardless of whether it was positive or negative
, a
ll of these emotions had started to trickle through to her subconscious mind prying at the vaults once impregnable edges. They had exchanged these meat suits on a regular basis over the centuries but for some inexplicable reason she had been unable to give up this present form, she knew that Samyaza and Azazel were suspicious of her actions but just could not break the hold that this body held for her
, for the first time in her existence she had begun to touch the edges of free will.
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
Their cause had drawn followers from around the world in all areas that were of use to them, one of these such agents had alerted them to Gabriel’s plans and his usage of the man called McCullum, it was always necessary to submit to subterfuge tactics when attempting to intercept your opponents tactics and she was always watchful for treachery amidst her own ranks. She looked around the people carriers interior, Samyaza was burning with impatience momentarily appeased
at their forward momentum whilst
Azazel
had taken his own path to their destination
, he had always been an enigma to even her acut
e senses, he sat separately, away from the her plans and yet fulfilling his duties without question but always seemingly keeping his own council tightly
. Neither the 11
^th
Order nor the Grigori could afford Baines death until he held the Cube in his hands having plucked it from the earth freeing the power, from that point the rest was sketchy at best, none of them really knew just what the future would hold, how the Cube could be wielded or just what abilities it truly held, their relentless quest had merely become all of their lives for as long as memories stretched back through the now murky depths of time.
At times like this in rare moments of quiet reflection she wondered at the sense of all this, but these blasphemous ideas were always swept angrily aside as she cursed herself for her weakness, they had to have the Cube, they had to have the power and nothing, absolutely nothing must be allowed to stand between them and their destiny
and they would go around, over or through anyone who would stand in their path.

             
Unknown to Lucifer she was following in the footsteps of Gabriel merely at a later time, Ga
briel, Michael and Raphael had
already travelled along this stretch of road and Gabriel
, much
like Lucifer had been lost deep within his own dark thoughts. He had been constantly and unconsciously wiping at his face as he still felt the wet stain of another’s blood run through his jaws and drip off his chin, the animal that had been unleashed the night before was as terrifying as it was exhilarating. He had come out of his feral rage to find himself soaked with the red river that he had created within the small hostelry
, like Lucifer his mind was clouded from time to time as he questioned their quest with its costs and even its potential, but also like Lucifer he was always compelled to continue. His main obstacle now was in fact his own dangerously unpredictability, last nights bloody incident testified to that, he had to maintain his focus as Michael and Raphael were already observing him a little too intently, his position as their leader could very well come under threat as he knew that both of them greatly coveted his role. His plans had thus far all fallen as they were intended, Baine had bounced around seemingly at random but in reality within the very strict confines of Gabriel’s plans, plans which had been devised centuries ago purely awaiting the unmasking of Metatron’s child. Baine had been impregnated with thoughts of freedom little realising that no matter what choices he made they were always the choices devised for him,
Gabriel had not intervened during the attacks on Baine, eager to test the half-breeds credentials. L
ikewise with the pitiful McCullum, Gabriel had never sired the pathetic creature, he had identified McCullum from birth, he had led his real father away from the family home at early age and thus begun the long and arduous journey of intelligence coupled with an empty hole where love and relationships should lie. He had guided the policeman’s career through the years steering him away from forming attachments to others, burying himself in a soulless job devoid of any loving interaction, as much as Gabriel was capable of he still needed mortal men to walk among the earth forwarding his will. The authority of the human law enforcers was a great asset to cut a sway through the world of men
, he needed one such man to follow Baine and pave the way for the 11
^th
Order to seek the prize, the senior officer Irving was merely another pawn to be moved about the board at Gabriel’s will facilitating the quest. Much of what he had told McCullum was a necessary lie, the Reapers were agents of the 11
^th
Order, foul beasts who served a violent purpose, the attack on McCullum had only ever been intended to gain his trust and to open a physical wound, when Gabriel had placed a healing hand upon the loathsome mans back he had healed the wound but he had also cast a small piece of himself into McCullums blood to make him more receptive and easier to control along with a tracking sense to enable him to follow Baine more accurately.
Michael and
Raphael were faced forward without moving, their eyes fixed firmly ahead betraying neither thoughts nor emotions, Gabriel knew that they were more than capable of treachery but he also knew that their feet would remain in place whilst he still had their confidence and their confidence was only maintained by success so as long as he delivered he would not have to deal with a mutiny, the road blazed by as they rushed headlong into
his
destiny.

             
The day was proceeding along its bitter path, the stone cathedral walls and floors offered little protection against the creeping cold, Jessica Reynolds bristled with self importance as she
busied herself with authorities. Despite being a voluntary position being a Tour Guide within the ancient walls was a much sought after post amongst the local community bringing with it an air of achievement and respect. The Guides were only selected from the very most knowledgeable members of the holy city, the recruitment process was extensive and exhaustive and once appointed the post was seldom left, Jessica had been a scholar of the Cathedral for well over thi
rty years now and there was not a
nook
,
nor a cranny that she did not know intimately. The first morning’s crowd were beginning to assemble as she drank in their eager and inquisitive stares, the group were punctual and organised, always a good sign, Jessica stood around five foot five in comfortable and sensible shoes, dressed protectively against the winter weather she stood hands clasped behind her back in a commanding
headmistress’
pose.
Her first morning collection of visitors gathered in the large entrance, she greeted them as they entered carefully scanning their ages and attire for signs of potential disturbing
behaviour
, inappropriate clothing and footwear normally led to poor attention spans, likewise expensive and intricate cameras and camcorders had begun to seep into her tours, she had campaigned tirelessly for their removal but so far unsuccessfully.