CounterPoint (17 page)

“How in creation did you get this?” he asked, studying it intensely.

“Headquarters was in chaos, sir, I just took whatever was worth taking,” she said matter-of-factly.

“This is excellent Amber. It will provide us with some extra time,” he said, walking into the hallway which was the centre of the house.

David came out in curiosity. Ariel knelt down and placed the red medallion flat on the floor with the cross facing upwards. It glowed deep red, sending a thin red ripple out in all directions from the house.

“Excellent,” Ariel replied, standing up and opening the front door. The ripple could be seen expanding out until it reached the tree line, where it then headed skywards. The cottage and surrounding land became engulfed in a red hue.

“What was that?” asked David visibly impressed.

“An alarm. When any angelic being crosses it we will be alerted. It will also make the building almost indestructible,” said Ariel, watching as the red hue faded away until it was almost invisible.

“Let’s hope this friend you have gets back in time.”

“Indeed.”

Ariel and David stood side by side looking out across the deserted rain laden fields. The forest surrounding the cottage rustled violently, making all kinds of deep hallowing noises. In the cottage, Amber had assembled blades, swords and daggers across the table.

“Sir?” asked Amber knowingly. She held a long thick silver tube which sparkled brightly.

“Proceed,” authorised Ariel. Amber began to write an ancient enchantment into the air with the silver tube. It wasn’t easy, digging into concrete would describe it. She was effectively writing a ‘pass code’ into the surrounding area. Bright silver letters were being drawn in mid-air before sparkling out of the room in all directions quietly.

“This will stop any angels from simply appearing within these walls, or the grounds.”

“You’re prepared,” granted David, impressed, and for a moment felt a glimmer of hope for survival.

“It will only last as long as the building is intact. Our battle will take place out there on the field.” Ariel never sought battle, but looking out at that field only made him wish the battle was now. He could charge out and hold the line. Angels were pre-programmed with immense fighting capabilities from physical combat to angelic special powers. 

Reminding himself that there was little time to indulge in what could be, he began to analyse the house with his angelic eyes. Seeing the structure as of basic human design and strength, a simple well aimed angelic bolt would destroy it if the protection failed. It was much more suited for a demonic war. He placed his hand high in the air and closed his eyes. He turned a full 360 degrees looking at the room. Outstretching his hand towards the floor and concentrating the room began to come to life. The floor boards broke apart then bolted back together again, much stronger. David steadied himself against a cabinet. The lights began glowing at full brightness; some didn’t even have light bulbs in them. The curtains shuddered and lengthened to the floor, albeit they were now black instead of the warm cream colours they were before. In short, the whole house seemed to creak and moan as it was strengthened from top to bottom, every nail and bolt was tightened. Ariel also informed them that he had placed a camouflage spell across the house so that nothing would be seen from aerial reconnaissance. If any demon, angel or supernatural being approached the area they would be alerted by the shield. And no light was visible from outside – it now appeared shrouded in complete darkness.

“Ariel, how long do you think we have?” asked David, examining the small arsenal that lay in front of him.  He picked up a jagged dagger and was shocked how heavy it was. Clearly made for angel hands!

“It’s difficult to say. Assuming Pravuil isn’t caught in Rome then we should have maybe an hour. Perhaps two. It depends how long it takes them to piece together what happened at that safe house in Russia.”

“Surely not long then;” interjected Amber.

“Well I had agreed with Manakel before the confrontation to scramble their memories. That should give us some extra time.”

The group congregated in the dining room, Claire was particularly fascinated with the blades. She and Amber were surprisingly able to strike up a conversation about which weapons were to be used and when. Ariel remarked to David that Amber may be an angel, but she always seemed to get on better with those humans from the female gender of the species. They eventually headed into the living room to practice some moves together; Claire had always been interested in swords even as a child, never one to play with dolls or prams, much to her mother’s trauma.

Catherine and Mary had taken seats in the living room and Catherine was busying herself making tea and coffee for those who wanted it along with some light food. David and Ariel began discussing what Pravuil had told them and how Earth shattering it could be to the world. According to Ariel, the problem not only lay with the angelic world but humankind as well. Angels and everything associated with them were created to help administrate, guide and when required protect humankind. Humans were to flourish. Apparently there were many more incidences of angels deviating from their divine path than was ever documented by Heaven. Ariel long had his suspicions that upper management always covered up tragic incidents involving angels and humans.

What David did not understand was the concept of Heaven, as Ariel talked about it as if it was a living creature. Ariel quickly explained it was just simple ‘lingo’ used in Heaven. He queried Ariel on other unusual concepts he yearned to comprehend. A knock at the door interrupted their conversation. Ariel and Amber raced towards it, ready to strike.

“It’s Johnny,” shouted Mary, who was in the sitting room of the cottage overlooking the fields below from the large bay window at the side. “He’s safe, an old friend. Show him in.”

“Mary,” said Johnny, acknowledging his old friend with a simple nod. He placed the briefcase on the living room coffee table and sat down. Speaking the word “release” while waving his hand across the front of the briefcase slowly, an unlocking noise could be heard. Mary and Johnny had a deep hatred for this book within which they couldn’t even describe. The groups puzzled look began Mary explaining.

“We discovered this many years ago, in Rome. It brought nothing but evil to our group. It looks the way it did fifty years ago,” said Mary, running her hand across the leather embossed cover. It was a large A4 sized book, bound in black leather with deep red ink used for the text. White ink used for the diagrams. It certainly made for striking contrasts. Each page was finished in a line of glittering gold and the book had no actual title. The front cover, in gold ink, simply read:
Title.

“Remember when we first found this book? We hailed it as the greatest discovery in our history. Finally a book which seemed to explain us. Then as we read on...” said Johnny. He remembered it vividly, shuttering inside.

“The problems started,” cut in Mary, opening the book to where a gold feather had been used as a page reminder. It was in the exact spot, at the last page of her reading before her two friends, also studying the book, went crazy. Ariel was now standing beside her, looking down with an intense stare at the book.

“They’re still the same you know, them two. Still the same after all this time. They haven’t been outside that basement in fifty years. You wouldn’t even recognise them now. Their hollow looking, but still have moments of pure evil,” said Johnny.

“Are they separated?”

“We tried that many times over the years. The last time we did they forcibly tore apart the solid concrete wall between them. They tore most of their fingers off in the process….” he tailed off, that was one gruesome memory he would rather forget.

“Those poor girls. We warned them not to read it,” sympathised Mary, glancing over the different pages trying to get a feel for what the final chapters contained.

“We never found out how they even got their hands on it. I never believed it just appeared in front of them one evening. Something definitely happened to them on that trip to Rome.”

“Something always happens in that wretched city. Too much evil has polluted it over the centuries. That Vatican is even worse. My view of them was never the same after World War Two.” Mary sighed; she really was feeling her age.

Johnny nodded in agreement. In 1959 Mary, Patrick and himself travelled to Rome on a fact-finding mission. They had been doing some research into old documents handed down to Mary. One seemed to focus on an old church in Rome where, according to the document, a cache of secret books lay buried under the altar. Trouble started as soon as they arrived though. They were arrested and detained without charge for over a week. Finally, a demon came to visit them in the cell. It was clear the small police centre was overrun with them. The demon demanded to know what they were doing here, why their ‘aura’ was off. Realising this was a demon stronghold, they blasted the barred gates of the cell and fought the demons. Patrick didn’t survive but it was then Johnny realised just how powerful Mary was, and how skilled she was at controlling and manipulating her gift. With haste they proceeded to the church described in the documents. After setting up a meeting with the local priest in charge, they were shocked to discover he too was a demon. After trying to bury them alive in the basement, they quickly took what they came for and headed back to England. Mary swore never to go back to Rome, calling it the City of Evil.  They warned everyone never to go there. However, when Bridget and Bernadette came back with this book excitement reached fever-pitch. Their story went that they were in Rome and viewing a replica of the famous Mona Lisa painting by Leonardo Da Vinci. The book apparently ‘miraculously’ appeared in front of them. That was always doubted. There were always rumours those two girls were involved in satanic like sects and the like.

“Johnny, I need you to promise me you won’t get involved in this fight,” urged Mary gravely.

“We need as many troops as possible,” countered Ariel, willing to use any backup that was presenting itself.

“Of course I’m gonna get involved, Mary. You know that. I’m not going to stand by while you fight these self-appointed ‘guardians’ of this world,” he replied with disdain, leaning forward to emphasise his point more. He had no concern that Ariel was present while he was insulting angels.

“Jonathan,” Mary only ever used his proper name when trying to stress a serious point, “you’ll have your hands full when this war starts. You really think they’re going to stop with us? For whatever reason, and I hope it’s in this book, they need us before they can proceed. But they’re bound to know those of us who could make their job that little bit more difficult. You’ll need to get the library moved, get all the artefacts to safety and then round up everyone else and disperse up north. You have responsibilities and you need to fulfil them. Ariel, I don’t want to hear it. This is our fight, not his.”

Knowing she was right, as always, Johnny acquiesced. There would be so much to do, they always suspected something like this might happen but it was thought to be hundreds of years away. Now they sat in a cottage discussing their fate, with him agreeing to abandon his best lifelong friend for books and antiques. They were critical to the future teachings of those who were gifted, especially if none of them were to survive the oncoming battle.

“Before I leave, I will secure the house with as many enchantments that I can muster. It may not give you much of an edge, but ….”

“Thank you Johnny, as usual you’re always there for me,” said Mary, emotion encompassing her voice. They embraced firmly for what seemed like ever before she broke away sharply, looking him up and down. They both looked a lot older now, compared to the young fresh memories they had of battling demons across Europe. She motioned him to leave, knowing she’d be overcome with emotion and now was not the time for that.

“Mary,” said Ariel, watching as Johnny left, “may I seek that book?”

Mary nodded, and offered it up to him from her chair.

“Thank you,” he said gravely, walking quickly out of the room.

Chapter 22

This small cottage situated in the Welsh highlands seemed like a century away from the bustling cities of England or the angelic Headquarters in Scotland. Ariel and Amber had drenched the house in every anti-demon and anti-angel protection they could muster. With Amber’s speciality utilising martial arts and swordsmanship she patrolled up and down the length of the cottage eager for anyone to dare try and breach its defences. The large invisible perimeter shield that expanded into the tree covers surrounding the house promised no angel or creature could use their powers once inside that field. Ariel was thankful the shield would also absorb incoming angelic bolts and bursts of lightning. He knew some of his more powerful colleagues would crash through his protective measures. The only hope was to hold them off long enough until Pravuil found what he was looking for. Whatever it was about this family Michael wanted them. He suspected a specialist hit squad trained in ratting out high ranking demons was on its way.

Looking out the window behind the black straight curtains, Ariel was waiting for the inevitable. That untitled book had unnerved him greatly. As soon as he touched it, he knew it was of ancient origin. As soon as Pravuil returned they would have much to discuss in private, no doubt much to the chagrin of everyone else.

The Bassett family sat around the quaint country kitchen table. Fatigued but determined from the previous day’s events, they waited for what Ariel had told them could be a ‘blood bath’. David stared blankly out the kitchen window into the darkness. Mary sat in the middle of her family, holding a large mug of tea and wanting nothing more than a nice chocolate biscuit while reading the book with no title. Might as well make the best of the situation, she thought. Thinking back to what her father had told her all those years ago she wondered if he had any foreknowledge of these coming events. Her anger slightly rose to think that he might have.  And now, tonight, in this little cottage, they could all meet their end. Truth be told, she didn’t place much hope in the ability of two renegade angels and the family to hold off the forces of Heaven. But she was determined to go out fighting – she was taking chunks with her! Naturally, these views weren’t aired to the family. They needed strength and optimism, though she was starting to feel her age. Defeating the Behemoth had drained her.