Mystery's Choice (Vengeance Of The Fallen Book 1) (30 page)

“Why did I feel dead inside after he was done?”

“He is Lord of the Dead. His darkness temporarily drowned out your light. You should be feeling more like yourself now.”

“Why does all of this exist? Who are the Roodmasi? And how is it you were born to Eve, right after The Fall and you are still alive?” Mystery turned around so she was looking in her father’s eyes. “I need to understand. I need the rest of the picture.”

Cain paced for a minute before he sat down on her bed. He motioned for her to come and sit beside him. When she was settled next to him. He took one of her fragile hands in his big, callused hands. He looked out into the room and his eyes went unfocused as he looked back through time.

“Father engineered The Fall, bribing the angels who guarded the entry way with pleasure and promises of power. Once Adam and Mother had eaten what they were not supposed to, he knew they would be kicked out of The Garden and when Mother was feeling put out with God, he seduced her and I was the product.” Cain stood and began to pace again.

“So, did he ask you to kill your brother?” Mystery asked, already knowing the answer.

“Yes. He knew I would be marked and no man would be able to extinguish my life and I would be free to walk the Earth for all time.”

“How did Grandfather know for certain that God would not kill you and call it a day?”

“I asked him that myself once. He told me that God’s history up to that point was telling.”

“God’s history?”

“Yes. When the battle happened in Heaven, God had the angels who had fought against him thrown from Heaven. When Adam and Mother did what they should not have, he expelled them from paradise, instead of smiting them and starting anew. So, Father figured, my punishment would be to have my life elongated, and to know I would spend eternity away from those I knew and loved. It was the worst thing God could do to me, aside from take my life.”

“So, Grandfather bet everything, your life, his plans on percentages?”

“Yes. And it worked.” Cain raised his eyebrow. “I did not appreciate him betting on my life, but I did not question my father. I hesitated as long as I could because I loved Abel. He was simple, kind and good in a way I never could be. But, as I have done for eight thousand years, I obeyed and I slew him.” Cain looked up, his beautiful face twisted in agony. “God punished me by marking me.” He pulled up his sleeve and showed her a branded symbol burned into his upper left forearm. “He banished me from my home and sent me to wander the Earth for all time. This was exactly what your Grandfather had planned.” He looked up and smiled wistfully at her. “I thought at the time, his plan would not work. God would see what he was up to and smite me. However years, followed by centuries, stretching into millennia passed and I thrived.” Cain sat next to Mystery again. “I have not questioned Father’s workings since.”

“So, just like with Abel, if I had not come home, you would have killed me?”

“Yes. I do not know if I could have survived killing you. I love you, as I have not loved any of my other children. It would have destroyed your mother and I love her more than I have loved any other Shivana who I married.” He kissed her forehead. He smiled when she squeezed his hand.

Mystery stood and began to pace herself, as she tried to take in the scope of who and what she was a part of. “You have married into the Roodmasi before Mother?”

“Many times. Father calls me back home, when he feels I have been with the humans long enough. He sends me back, when he sees the opportunity to produce a Shivana or Shivant, the male version, of particular power.” He smiled to himself. “I am actually your Mother’s great, great grandfather.”

“So the Roodmasi have existed since The Fall?”

“Shortly after it. I went to Nod, and found those willing to follow Father under his true name and not the names they had been worshipping him under. The followers grew and Father would come from time to time to enforce their belief in him.”

“If he can come to this plane by himself, why is the ascension necessary?”

“After The Christ died on the Rood, he went to Acheron and stole the keys not only to life and death, but to the passageway Father used to ascend to this plane. Father can only be summoned now, for a short time, within a consecrated circle of power.” He took her hand and brought her back to sit beside him. “I am the only one who can summon him and I can only hold it for a short period of time.” He made sure she looked at him. “With your power, added to mine and the Roodmasi’s; Father can ascend to this plane permanently.”

Mystery pulled away and stood. “So, you lied to me about the world not ending because I came home?” Tears gathered in her eyes.

“No!” Cain went to her and pulled her into his arms. She resisted and finally collapsed against him. “This is in the Bible. There will be a thousand years of Father’s reign. The thousand years of his reign would have begun with or without you it is predestined. When it ends, the battle written about in Revelation will come to pass. Understandably, the Roodmasi, believe in a different outcome than the Bible’s.” He relaxed when she chuckled. “The Feast we will celebrate in a few days time, is called Roodmas, it is our biggest celebration, because it is when The Christ died. There are other Feast Days which correspond to failures for the opposing viewpoint.”

“So, I will become Shivana eventually?”

“Yes. When Raevanne, is called home to Father, you will assume her place as the next Shivana. I will be called home and when the time is at hand for the battle, I will again join the Roodmasi and marry the Shivana, producing another warrior for the coming battle.”

“So… It won’t be me?”

Cain laughed. “No, my daughter, it won’t be you. You will be called home to be with me in Acheron, long before those far away days.”

“I cannot say Grandfather does not scare me, senseless, but I already feel love for you and for my mother. I will try hard to be worthy of my people by the time I am Shivana. Please, be patient, this is overwhelmingly different to everything I was raised to believe and to the life I led before I came here.”

“You are home. We can be patient now.” He stood and twirled her around. “My daughter is home!” His blue eyes glowed with joy.

“I am home to stay.” Mystery smiled at her father and kissed his cheek. “Please, can I see Jeremiah now?”

They both turned when Raevanne came all the way into the chamber, she had watched from the door, enjoying the adult version of her daughter, demanding answers from her father, just as she had when she was a toddler. Raevanne’s eyes were full of tears. Mystery ran to her and they embraced. Raevanne looked over her daughter’s head and mouthed, “Thank you.” To her husband, he mouthed, “You’re welcome.” They both smiled.

“Of course, you can see your child now.”  Raevanne put her arm around Mystery’s shoulders and pulled her from the room. “He can be moved into your chamber tonight if you would like.”

“Yes. Please”

“Daughter. I am sorry, I wanted you to have nothing but joy, on this your first day with us.”  Cain was sincerely contrite.

“I know, Father.”  Mystery kissed his cheek, as her mother opened the door to another chamber. Mystery ran forward and snatched up her son. Tears ran down her face as he gripped her hair and smiled at her. “He still remembers me!”

“Of course he does.”  Raevanne stepped forward and brushed her daughter’s hair out of her face. “You are his mother.”

“Your mother and I will leave you to play with your son. Good night, Mystery and welcome.”

“Good Night.”  She was so absorbed in her son she didn’t even hear them leave.

20

That night, Seth shuffled the boxes he was carrying around so he could reach into his pocket for his keys. He had tried ringing and no one had answered. When he found them he unlocked the door and pushed it open. The house was unnaturally quiet. Seth made his way into the living room and put the boxes down. He walked back to the kitchen and finding it empty he helped himself to some juice.

“Mystery, Ryan?  Is anybody here?”  The hair on the back of his neck stood on end.

Seth wandered upstairs, not wanting to see the bedroom, but knowing he had to get his stuff out of the closet. The bed was slightly rumpled and he found Mystery’s white robe lying in a fluffy heap on the floor. He sat as he picked it up. Mystery’s scent filled his senses as he held it to his cheek.

He jumped as a vase fell off Mystery’s vanity. “Who’s there?”  He shouted into the semi-darkness.

“Nobody but us ghosts.”  Said a gravelly voice.

Seth’s eyes dilated with fear as the room filled with a horrible stench. He could only stare in return at the beady yellow eyes, which stared out of the shadows at him. Seth’s shoulders drooped with acceptance of his fate. The yellow eyes slowly grew into a human form. A naked man stepped forward.

“Mystery’s gone to the Roodmasi?”  Seth heard himself say.

“Yes.”  The man replied in a gravelly voice.

Seth stared in amazement as the man’s mouth slid out of place.

“I was ordered to take on human form for this. I’m afraid it’s very hard to duplicate, for a demon of my order.”  The gravelly voice apologized as he pushed his nose back into place.

“Will I suffer?”  Seth asked, as he tried not to gag on the demon’s fecal-like smell.

“No.”  He came a little closer, “But you will die.”

“Is Mystery happy?”  Seth whispered. “Will Ryan die?”

“Yes, the holy man will die. Yes the princess is happy and all of demon kind with her.”

“I’m ready.”

A few minutes later, lights came on all over the neighborhood and several dogs barked as a man’s high-pitched scream split the night air.

Ryan said a prayer and ran the red light, silently apologizing to the angry driver who had to swerve to miss him. He took the corner on two wheels, stopped the car and bounded out. He didn’t know why Seth was at the house, but he knew he was in danger. Mystery and he had tried calling Seth to let them know the plan, but he never returned their calls and had changed hotels. Ryan had not gone back to the house after Mystery left, he knew Cain had probably given orders anyone who entered the house was to be killed. If Seth was there… The feeling of disaster had only gotten stronger as he got closer. He unlocked the door and gagged as the smell of frying meat slammed into him.

“Seth!”  He screamed and started for the stairs only to be pushed back down.

“You’re too late, preacher man.” A gravelly voice said from somewhere in the shadows.

“In the name of Jesus!”  Ryan shouted as he climbed the stairs, “Demon be gone!”  He smiled as an unearthly shriek filled the air. He didn’t hear his brother screaming. His heart shattered when he could feel no one living inside the room.

“Seth!”  He screamed as he tried to open the door. He kicked at the door and cursed when it wouldn’t open. He tried using his mind to unbolt the lock, but the door wouldn’t budge. Finally, in frustration he banged on the door and mouthed wordless prayers. He sank to his knees and wept.

Sometime later, demonic laughter filled the air as the door crept slowly open. Ryan took a deep breath and stood. He begged God to give him strength as he stepped into the room he and Mystery had shared. The stench of human entrails and frying flesh assaulted him.

“God, no, please, sweet Jesus!”  He wailed as his eyes took in the bloodbath. Deep inside he knew there was no way Seth still lived, but he prayed for it anyway.

Tears of frustrated rage coursed down his cheeks, when he turned to the dresser and saw what had once been his brother’s scalp atop it. The blond ponytail matted with blood and thicker things. Sighing, he turned and went downstairs to call the police.

Seth opened his eyes to find himself standing at the end of a long hallway. There were several doors opening off the hallway and an eerie green light shone from under each door. Seth jumped as a cold hand clamped on his bare shoulder.

“You must choose a door.” A voiced said from the shadows.

Seth turned, but he was only able to make out two eyes shining with the same eerie light, which leaked from under the doors.

“Where am I?”  Seth asked, though he knew the answer.

“Why you are in the Master’s workshop, on the third level of the grand city of Acheron. Welcome.”  The voice was filled with pride.

Encouraged by the friendliness of the disembodied voice, Seth stepped forward and gingerly turned the knob on the first door. At first all he could see was a swirling mist and the green light; as he focused he bit down on his lip to keep from shrieking at the sight before him.

A woman lay tied to a stone slab, her clothing gone, she looked at him beseechingly. Her mouth was sewn shut with leather threading, her legs were splayed and Seth could see a raw steak had been stuffed inside her. Seth turned his head at a hissing sound and a low growl came from the corner. A devil dog was bound to the wall with a thick rope. The hissing sound was coming from the acid, which was slowly dripping onto the rope, eating it away.

As Seth watched the dog began to strain against the rope, aching to get to the feast on the other side of the room. He jumped as the rope broke with a ping and the dog leapt toward the woman. He closed his eyes to escape the carnage and stumbled back through the door, slamming it shut behind him.

“You must choose a door.” The voice said as screams filled the dank air.

Ryan sat on the curb and stared at the whirling lights on top of the police cruiser closest to him, if he let himself get lost in the movement it almost didn’t hurt to breathe. He tried not to think about what might be happening to Mystery right now. He realized how arrogant they had been to believe she could go to them and still find a way to fight them. They had brainwashed all of the young girls before they killed them, they had probably begun brainwashing Mystery the minute she said yes. Ryan knew he couldn’t lose his brother and Mystery; he wouldn’t survive it. He saw movement out of the corner of his eye and looked up to see a tall, Hispanic woman sitting down on the curb beside him.

“I’m Felicity, Ryan. We talked on the phone briefly a while back. I am a friend of Mystery’s.”  Ryan didn’t say anything he just kept staring at the whirling lights. “I know Mystery has gone to them. I wish she had asked me before she went, she isn’t strong enough to keep them from infecting her psyche.”

Ryan looked over at her. “I realize that now. She was supposed to contact me, you know telepathically. I haven’t even been able to feel her.”

“They are blocking the signal. She can’t hear anything right now except for Jeremiah’s cooing. She won’t even know they are shifting her allegiances until it is too late.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

“Pray. I will work on reaching her. My magic protects her to a certain degree, I can follow my magic and maybe I can influence her to contact one of us.”  She stood. “Be careful. It stands to reason, you are next on their list of tying up loose ends. I am sorry about your brother. He was a gentle, kind soul. Blessed Be, Ryan. I will call you as soon as I know anything.”

“Thank you. Protect yourself, I’m sure you are on the list too.”

“I’ve been on it for years. I will be fine.”  Ryan watched as she walked away.

“Mr. Parsons?”

Ryan turned to see a tired looking man in wrinkled clothes, holding a notebook and yawning.

“Yes.”

“I’m Detective Sam Jefferies, I don’t know if you remember me. I’m sorry for your loss. Where is Mystery?”

“I don’t know. She has been missing for several days.” Ryan’s voice was flat.

“So do you think the cult took her?”

“I don’t know.”

“I can’t help if I have nothing to go on.”  Sam was getting frustrated; Ryan wouldn’t stop staring at the whirling lights of the siren.

“You can’t help anyway. If you guys are done with me for tonight, I‘d like to go back to my hotel and get some sleep.”

“We’re done, Mr. Parsons.” He handed Ryan a card. “Call me if you think of anything which might help us stop these people.”

“I will. Good night, detective.”  Ryan walked to his car.

Sam watched him go.

Ryan jolted each time the undertaker’s assistant dropped a shovelful of dirt on the tidy cedar box holding what was left of his baby brother. He tried to find the grief hidden in his heart and found the guilt left room for nothing else.

Ryan winced as pictures of the sweet, trusting little boy Seth had been filled his tortured mind. He’d promised to protect him. He and Mystery hadn’t succeeded in warning him of their little plan. Neither of them had thought he would be in danger because of it; Cain and the Roodmasi hadn’t bothered him since he left. They should have waited until he knew not to come to the house. He should have known once the Roodmasi believed they had what they wanted they wouldn’t hesitate to kill anyone who knew of them and their quest to get Mystery. Now he didn’t know if Mystery was all right and he was standing over his little brother’s grave. He hadn’t protected Seth; he had betrayed and deserted him. Once Mystery was safely in his grasp, Cain had sent his minions to mutilate Seth. He had died screaming and alone. It had taken the coroner hours to identify all the parts and the bank had decided to tear down the house, rather than try to remove all the blood and gore.

He had no problem hating himself for what he considered his part in his brother’s death, but no matter how much he tried, he couldn’t hate Mystery. All he could do was wish she were here with him, that he could go back to the dreary hotel room and lose himself in her. Ryan shook his head in disgust at himself; he was standing at his brother’s grave fantasizing about Mystery.

When Ryan looked up again, the grave was covered. He looked up at the grey clouds rolling across the sky with their promise of more snow, and begged his brother to forgive him. He turned and walked away from the newly covered grave.

Later that night, Ryan lay in bed missing Mystery, mourning Seth. He prayed fervently for Mystery’s soul, he prayed she was strong enough to hold on to who she was in the midst of all that evil. He missed her, the way she smelled, and the way her body matched with his perfectly. At the thought Ryan felt him self beginning to harden. He shifted to a more comfortable position and closed his eyes.

Ryan’s eyes sprung open when the room began to shake and the foul smell of sulphur filled his senses. Closing his eyes, he prayed as unnerving shrieks split the air. Opening his eyes he fixed his gaze on the closest winged creature and it went up into flames. One by one they burst into flying balls of flame.

All of the sudden, the temperature in the room shot up and Ryan began to sweat. Laughter rocketed through the room, and Cain stepped out of the shadows.

“Hello, Ryan. Time to die.”

“God protect your warrior.”  Ryan prayed as he stepped out of bed. “Let the games begin.”  He pushed Cain with his mind and he went sprawling.

“Pretty good, holy man.”

Ryan threw up his hands as a chair came flying at him; it stopped and crashed to the floor. He touched his hand to the cross around his neck; taking hold of it he said a quick prayer and flung it at Cain, where it stuck to his chest.