Judgement (The Twelve) (24 page)

Priest looked confused
, “
But o
nce re-born none of us can have children. We’re sterile.”

Chris didn’t
now
, “Then how come….”

Anvil
answered his unfinished question, “I have no damn idea!
”

“
What happened to Shadow
?” Patch had to ask.

Judgement answered that question, “Just like the Elders took Anvil in
and have him his new name
so did the Ellish find and train Shadow. Like for like.”

Electrical sparks flashed between Hot Cross’s finger
s in excitement, “What a story!”

Priest looked sad, “
So
Edge
wasn’t to be one of the Twelve
?”

Anvil
looked crestfallen, “No. Unknown to me he was re-born with hatred
and pure evil within
his heart
by a man I’d killed in battle
. He
not only
went on to be
the
Leader
of The Dark
, but I had
a hand in
creat
ing
him
.”

No one spoke, they where to shocked with this revelation. Finally it was
Judgement
who broke the silence.

“Then you fathered
Chris
.”

Anvil
looked totally
confused, “But I didn’t know!”

Judgement
stood and walked away a short distance, his back to
Anvil
. It was Chris who spoke,
“Judgement let me see
by way of a small glimpse into the past
. Sixteen years ago
, y
ou met
once again
with Edge
in secret
, wanting to try
one last time to bring
him over from the Dark. But he was having none of it. He hurt you with words that drip
ped
with poison and
instead of returning to your
people
you got drunk.”

Anvil
remembered, “
Edge
found me actually. I was making my way back to the house on my own when he’d surprised me
with a visitation
. After I realised he wasn’t going to attack
, I tried to explain. I tried, no I begged him to see the truth. But he wouldn’t listen. He told me
one day
he was going to kill me and my son. I was hurt and confused. Hurt that my own son wanted to kill me and confused that Edge sounded like he was then going to commit suicide. Nothing made any sense and after Edge had left me alone in the dark. I found the nearest pub and got drunk. So drunk I don’t remember anything else until Patch and Huntress found me slumped in a doorway of a closed shop.

Huntress nodded, “I remember that night! I was surprised to find you unconscious. We thought you’d been attacked until we realised you where just rotten drunk.
I think that’s the only time I’ve seen you drunk.”

Huntress continued, “
W
e
helped you
get
back
to safety
and out of politeness said nothing the next day. “

Chris
turned to face him, “You met a young woman in that pub, a single woman who was out having a good time. You had a one night stand and nine months later I was born. But my mother died in childbirth and I was adopted. The rest is history as they say.”

Anvil
stood and walked over to Chris, “You’re my son?”

Anvil went
to place his hand gently on
Chris’s
shoulder
, but Chris moved away
, “
yes I am
.”

Then Judgement came to the fore,
“By flesh are we related
.
When
I
was
re-born, Judgement entered me but Chris remained also
.
I am
Judgement
and I am Chris
.
Both held within one body.
My
first task
as Judgement
is to destroy
the evil in
Edge and restore t
he status quoi “

Anvil
looked crestfallen, “
Now I realise what Edge meant when he said he’d kill me and his son. He didn’t mean himself, he meant you. Somehow he knew he’d have a brother to kill.
Oh my God in Heaven, w
hat have I done
?
”

Chris resurfaced for a moment
, “
Fath
er
you are not to blame. I think
...”
then Judgement took control again “
…
Anvil
. T
his was
decided
eons ago. The Creator and the Destroyer arranged
all
this as a test for
the sake of
humanity.”

Judgement
looked around at the rest
of the Twelve
, “We have been chosen to represent all that is good in humanity
, even you Heartless. No offence intended.”

Heartless smiled, “None taken.”

Judgement
continued, “
Edge and the Dark were created by design to represent all that is evil in humanity. If we fail in this test, then light shall fall and night shall reign for all eternity.”

Rage surprised everyone with an unusual show of
sarcasm
,” No pressure then.”

Heartless looked around the room, “So stop me of I’m wrong but, we’re all sterile. I know this because over the years some of you have had the urge
to
wine and dine and others pay and lay.
But hey folks! No
kids’
right? Yet
Anvil
here not only produces two brats, no offence intended Judgement.”

Judgement
smiled, “None taken.”

“But getting two different women pregnant
and both set to kill one another. I mean come on
!”

Priest sighed, “The Creator
s
of good and evil
used Anvil as a means to an end. He created Judgement and Edge, two brothers, one good one evil. That is the real test.
”

Anvil
had a look of horror and shame on his face
, “I
t’s all a test!
”

He thought back to the beginning. He, Anvil walked the Earth gathering the Twelve to him, a religious number not lost to him. His actions created the first of The Dark. A miracle allowed him to father two sons. Kane and Able, Edge and Chris, one with the desire to kill the other, all of this was his doing. He was the catalyst that created the confrontation to come. What else had he created without his knowledge?

Anvil buried his head in his hands, “I can’t go on.”

Chris was having an inner conflict of his own, ‘
If we’re to work together you must stop taking control of me.’

Judgement answered
,
’I’m supposed to have replaced you when you died
.’

Chris grimaced, “
I may have died and been re born but I’m still here. You’re my guest, so behave like you, show some respect!’

A moments silence then
, ‘Agreed.’

Judgement
asked
Chris
to do something and Chris agreed. He
walked over and picked up
Anvils
weapon. The entire room gave a collective gasp. No one but
Anvil
could lift it, let alone use it.

Judgement held out the weapon
to Anvil
, “Yes you can.
You were given no choice in what you did. It was written in the stars long before this world was created.”

Anvil
slowly reached out and took his weapon, “
I still lead?
”

Chris returned and offered him a smile, “Yes…father
”

Speed skidded to a halt next to them, “We
’re
going to fight
T
he Dark
proper
?”

Priest nodded, “Unto death.”

Speed looked to Heartless, “Pay and lay?”

Heartless grinned, “Why not. One last time I think.”

Both men left the
warehouse
together. Huntress surprisingly walked off towards the bedrooms with Bulls Eye. Priest went over to the kitchen and removed several chicken legs and a bottle of vintage white wine from the fridge.

Slash and Hot Cross joined Rage and together they approached Judgement. Slash spoke for them, “We’re going out to look for Shades. If we’re to die fighting the damn Dark, then at least we can have one last treat and destroy a few
more
of those slime balls before sun up. You
coming
Patch?
”

“No I’ll stay with….
Chris
.”

They ignored
Anvil
and left the warehouse to go hunting.