Mystery's Choice (Vengeance Of The Fallen Book 1) (39 page)

“It’s okay, Lily. You can put the gun down.”  They all heard footsteps on the tile of the foyer. Lily came into the room

Felicity sprang to her feet, her hand going to her talisman.

“It’s okay, Felicity, I am on your side.”  Lily sat calmly next to Sam. “I am a devil, in fact I am the first succubus. But my love for Sam has changed my heart. I will fight with him and his allies in the final battle.”

Felicity kept her hand on her talisman long enough for Ryan to get nervous and place his hand on his new crucifix. She studied Lily’s serene eyes. Slowly, she released her talisman and sat down. Ryan said a quick prayer and released his crucifix.

“I am curious about one thing. Felicity, you felt what I was as soon as I entered the room and reacted accordingly. Ryan you didn’t react to me initially and when I told Felicity what I am, you still did nothing. It was when Felicity did not sit down, that you finally reached for your cross. Why?”  Lily asked as she lounged on the arm of Sam’s chair.

“I knew what you are, but I was in the redemption business far too long, for me to judge a book by its cover. When I searched you, I found nothing, which was a threat to me and mine. When Felicity wouldn’t sit down, I began to wonder if she could sense something I couldn’t.”  Ryan smiled at her.

“What do you sense when you feel me?”  Lily waited patiently for his answer.

“Power. Power which came from evil, but will do good. A soul looking for redemption. A soul that has already found love. You and Sam are very lucky.”  He looked Lily in the eyes. “He will forgive even you, Lily. It is not too late for you or for Sam. All you have to do is ask for forgiveness, you already believe.”  He looked at Felicity. “I’m going to guess Sam already knows what’s going on, so we can cut to the chase.”

“We came because the Ascension can’t be far off. We must be ready.”  Felicity closed her eyes. “With the power in this room, we will fail. However, I do not believe Mystery is lost to us. With her, we can not only stop the Ascension, but also cripple the Roodmasi until they disappear from this plane. As long as the Roodmasi have any power they are a threat to mankind.”

“Mystery is lost. She has been by Cain’s side through all of this chaos and death.”  Ryan’s voice cracked.

“No, Cain will ask her for a sacrifice she can not make.”  Lily looked at Felicity, smiling when she saw the witch knew.

“Cain will ask for Jeremiah’s life.”  Felicity looked at Ryan. “Mystery will not allow Jeremiah to be harmed.”

“Why would they care if Jeremiah lives or dies?”  Sam looked around him. “He’s just a baby.”

“He is much more than that.”  Ryan realized. “He is Mystery’s son, he has power, an unknown amount and he is a threat to them because they don’t know if he will be theirs to control.”

“Exactly.”  Felicity and Lily said in unison.

“I think we should sneak in and steal Jeremiah and Mystery if she will come. When we have them out, we should blow up the place.”  Sam rubbed his forehead.

“Bombs will not stop Cain. Quite probably they won’t stop Raevanne or Mystery. And if there are devils or demons in the aerie, it won’t stop them. Plus there are several covens around the world. We need to bring them down magically.”  Lily said. “They are more powerful than you would expect. They have existed since Cain went to Nod when he was exiled. They have been networking, working behind the scenes to bring about this time, their whole purpose is to bring about the Ascension and to rule the Earth when Satan steals the Heavenly throne.”  Lily looked around the group to make sure they understood whom they were going up against.

“I think if Raevanne dies, they will fall. I think the Shivana’s power infuses the cult.”  Felicity looked at Lily for conformation. Lily shook her head in agreement.

“If you kill Raevanne or separate her power from the collective mind of the Roodmasi their power structure will crumble. Without the group mind, the Roodmasi will be nothing more than a few powerful witches and human followers. Felicity can handle most of those would still have power, for if they have any power left they will be drained by the destruction of the group mind. Ryan, I believe you are meant to stop Cain. I will fight those in their number, who are not human, any demons which are sent. Sam, a loaded gun, a few grenades, and a rocket launcher can bring down the humans.”  Lily smiled at him and he kissed her hand. “Our problem will come from any surprise guests, any devils Satan might send for the Ascension, and if Mystery is lost. I am no match for her, and I will be equaled in power by any Devil and already drained from destroying Raevanne.”

They all jumped when the doorbell rang, everyone but Ryan pulling their weapon. They all took cover and made sure they could see all avenues of entry.

“Who’s there?”  Sam yelled.

“Mary Kate Ballard.”

Sam checked the peephole then let the little detective in.

“Mary Kate, we agreed you would stay in Arizona. I want you safe.”  Felicity was upset.

“You agreed I should stay away.”

“You’ll only get yourself killed here.”  Sam said as everyone settled in the living room again.

“Nowhere is safe. I have more skills than you, Sam. I have had special training I was in the marines. I can handle myself.”  She looked at her ex-partner and best friend. “I am staying.”  She noticed Lily and Ryan. “I’m Mary Kate.”  She reached over and shook hands with them.

“Nice to meet you.”  Lily remembered the chili. “I just burned the chili. What do you want instead?”

“I don’t care.”  Sam muttered.

“You got any hamburger, tomato sauce, noodles and cheese?”  Mary Kate asked.

“I think so.”

“I’ll throw a casserole together, you can fill me in while it cooks.”  Mary Kate went with Lily to the kitchen.

“She can help you with the normals.”  Felicity told Sam. They sat for a while in silence.

“Do you know who lives and who dies, Felicity?”  Sam bit his already short nails.

“Yes. But it will just make it harder.”  Felicity looked at Sam until he looked down.

“I still need to know.” Sam looked over at Lily, as she and Mary Kate came back in.

“She just defrosted the meat in the microwave. She took it out, drained it and seasoned it. Finished cooking it in the microwave, poured sauce over the meat and the dry noodles, mixed it and dumped on the cheese. It’s baking for twenty-five minutes. We’ll have food. Pretty cool.”

Everybody smiled at her amazement.

“Lily can only burn water. Cooking is something she hasn’t mastered yet.”  Sam kissed her hand and pulled her down beside him. “Lily, Felicity was just about to tell me who dies.”  Sam looked over at Felicity, they all did.

“Dammit! Okay! Fine!”  She stood and started pacing. “I saw it in the glass, so, it might change. The only survivors on our side are Jeremiah, Ryan, and Mystery. Everyone else dies. It was unclear in the glass, but only Raevanne’s aide, Serafina, and Mystery’s new baby survive on their side.”

“So, we all die, but we stop them and save Jeremiah.”  Mary Kate looked down at her hands they were steady. “I can live with that.”

“This is also what I see.”  Lily took Sam’s hand.

“Did you know before, when I…” He remembered the others.

“No. How could you think I would do something so horrible?  I would never have let you do it, if I had known your predestined life would be ending this soon.”  Lily’s eyes filled with tears.

“I’m sorry.”  He pulled her into his arms. “This whole thing is making me crazy. I am sick of waiting, I want him to ascend already.”

“I know, my love. The waiting is almost at an end.”  They remembered the other people in the room.

“You signed a pact with Satan, Sam?”  Ryan asked him.

“It was the only way Lily and I could stay together. The only way to stop her from facing an eternity of suffering for loving me.”  He looked into Lily’s eyes. “I would do it again. I love you.”

“Again, you can save your souls, if you just ask.”  Ryan looked at Sam.

“Sam has signed a pact and I would lose my powers, if I repent, since they stem from evil.”  Sam raised her hand and held it over his heart.

“Lily and I are spending eternity together.”

“Felicity?”

“I answer to my own gods, I’m fine. I have made my peace. I am ready for the Summerland.”

“Mary Kate, wear your cross when we go. It will give you extra protection.”

“Okay.”  Mary Kate stood. “I’ll go check dinner.”

“So, Mary Kate is right with your god?”  Felicity looked after her small, solid, friend.

“Yes.”

They ate in silence. There was nothing anyone could say that would make the trouble to come, go away.

25

The next morning Sam and Lily put on their vests, checked their backups and climbed in the truck. Sam was amazed at the amount of destruction just one night had wrought. They patrolled Park Hill today. Usually, there were children in the yards, mothers gardening, joggers and runners everywhere. The streets were empty, the windows barred and boarded up. Sam drove up and down the quiet streets. Some houses had Easter decorations up, all were very careful the decorations were of bunnies and eggs, and not Jesus. Sam laughed, the sound eerie in the unnatural silence.

Angelica Smithers picked up the last carton of eggs and prayed they were not broken. She had been to the three grocery stores, which remained open in the metro area. The world outside had gone crazy, but she was still mother to a five-year-old boy. And no Easter eggs would lead to explanations of why the Easter Bunny hadn’t come, which would lead to what had happened to the world, etc. She had to have the eggs; she had to make Easter as normal as she could for him. Angelica was determined her child’s world stayed as normal as possible. So, even though her feet ached and she was so tired she could hardly see straight, she would return with eggs. She would dye them tonight after Eric was asleep.

She smiled when all twelve eggs were whole and turned to place them in her basket. She noticed the couple in front of her arguing over who was going to pick up Cindi from ballet class. The argument was too heated for the topic and Angelica shook her head in disapproval. Out of nowhere, the man pulled a revolver from his overcoat and pointed it at the woman. The woman smiled at the man and dared him to pull the trigger. Angelica gaped at the evil smile on the man’s face.

“No! Don’t!”  She whispered at the woman, she could see the woman’s death in the man’s eyes.

The man put the gun to the woman’s forehead.

“Gladly, my dear, gladly.”  He pulled the trigger.

Angelica screamed as the woman’s blood and other thicker things splashed her face. The man turned his malevolent gaze on her and the terror on her face made him laugh maniacally. Her feet wouldn’t move as he lurched towards her. She screamed again and begged him not to shoot her.

“Please, I have a child, please. I won’t tell anyone, please!  Please, I don’t want to die!”

The eggs slid out of her limp fingers and crashed on the floor, as her world went dark.

Sam looked at the stricken look on the woman’s face and closed his eyes, she had been young and pretty and the report from the uniforms had said she was a single mother. There was no reason for her death his tired mind could accept. The man who had ended her life and his wife’s could offer no answers to why this had happened. He didn’t know why he had done it; he did not seem to hear anyone from the place he was hiding in his mind.

As he pulled the bloodstained sheet back over the pretty face, he looked across the room and sighed. When he thought about it he knew why this was happening and so did the beautiful woman walking towards him. Sam was tired of the preliminaries, he wanted the big battle to come, and he craved the end of it all.

“Lily, how many more people are going to die, before he gets on with it?”  He asked his partner when she put her hand on his shoulder.

“I know this is hard for you, my love.”  She stroked his shoulders, wishing she could truly offer him comfort. “But like I said, it will get much worse before it’s over and we will just have to keep trying to survive.”  She pulled him to his feet and wrapped her arms around him. “I love you, Sam.”

“I love you, Lily. I guess I am tired of all this waiting.”

“I know.”

Lily looked down at the bodies and wondered how much worse Satan would make it before he took the gloves off and all hell broke lose. She didn’t know how much longer Sam could keep fighting; she saw just a little bit more of him give up each day, and the real battle didn’t even begin until he was in Hell for eternity, If he didn’t have anything going in, he wouldn’t keep his sanity, and she couldn’t face it alone.

Raevanne brushed her hair in angry strokes. She had thought herself rid of her backstabbing assistant. Serafina had finagled her way into Samael’s bed and had become his consort. Raevanne had been sure Serafina would go the way of Samael’s other consorts. None of them lived for more than a couple of months, before he got bored and ate them. However, Serafina, the two-faced bitch, had lasted for four years and counting. And now Raevanne was to dine with her as an equal.

Raevanne threw her brush as rage bubbled over in her. She heard a muffled “oomph” and her husband walked in holding her brush and rubbing his tummy.

“Sorry. I do not want that cunt in my home.”

“I know, my love. Father wants Samael at the Ascension and wherever Samael goes Serafina follows. I would think you would be happy Samael finally found a companion.”  Cain set the silver brush on the vanity and began to massage Raevanne shoulders.

“Hmmmmm…” she purred. “Feels good.”  She let her head go forward. “I am glad for Samael and it will be good to see him. I just… I’ve hated Serafina since childhood and the feeling is mutual. She has always thought she should be Shivana. When we cleaned out her chamber and labs in the dungeons, we found proof she had tried to use magick against me.”

“Why didn’t you report it?”

“And give Serafina the satisfaction. She isn’t powerful enough to harm me. She is just a whorish annoyance.” Raevanne moaned as Cain hit a tense spot.

“She will be here for three short days. You will be busy preparing the aerie and the gifts for the Ascension. You will only be forced to bare her presence at meals, prayers, and the Ascension.”  He kissed the top of her head and sat on the bed.

Raevanne went and sat next to him. She laid her head on his shoulder.

“I am here when you are ready to tell me what is troubling you, so very much.”  She linked her fingers with his. “I know your last visit home unsettled you. I ask you two things before I let it go. One, remember I am your wife. Two, know I will always love you.”  She turned his face to her, searching his eyes, and she kissed him tenderly.

“I love you, always. And when I can I will share everything with you.”  He pushed her back on the bed. “Right now, I want to lose myself in you.”  He lay down partially on top of her and kissed her. Raevanne let her suspicions go and gave herself over to the kiss.

The next day Raevanne and Mystery scurried about the aerie making sure everything was perfect. Raevanne placed black orchids on the antique dresser in the room Samael and Serafina would be staying in. She lit purple candles inscribed with Samael’s sigil. She smoothed the black silk sheets and comforters and placed a tiny vial of human blood on each pillow. She stood back and admired her work, walked out and shut the door behind her. Next, she went downstairs to the kitchens to check on the menu for the Shivana’s table for the night.

“Remember Alan, Samael prefers his meat raw, with the garlic and basil seasoned blood sauce on the side. Serafina, will only eat meat carved from the thighs of a virgin, lightly grilled on each side, she will only drink human blood.”

“Yes, Shivana.” The partly balding chef took notes. “Shivana, will you dine on the meat our guests will partake of or will you prefer your usual hearts and livers in Cajun blood gravy?”

“I will eat what my husband, daughter, and Prince Samael will dine on.”

“Yes, my Shivana.”

Raevanne hurried out to check the Shivana’s dining room.

Mystery checked on the sleeping girl who would be tonight’s gift. The girl wouldn’t be sacrificed, but hung in a ritual room for Samael’s pleasure. She instructed the maid to awaken and prepare the girl at eleven. Malcolm would transport her and have her ready by midnight. She waved at her Father as she hurried upstairs to bathe and dress for the night.

After her milk bath, Juliet smeared scented crème all over Mystery’s satiny skin until it gleamed in the candlelight. She beamed with pride at her mistress’ beauty as she helped her into a purple robe. Mystery swept her hair up into a French twist. She checked herself in the mirror and went out to wait in the hall for her parents.

Raevanne decided to leave her long, wavy curls down, she put on her purple robe and smiled when Cain came from the bathroom and whistled.

“Thank you.”

“I will be escorting the two most beautiful women on this plane or any other. I am a lucky man.”  He kissed Raevanne breathless. He too put on his purple robe. Cain grabbed Raevanne’s hand and opened the chamber door. They both beamed with pride when they saw Mystery. “You look exquisitely beautiful, my darling daughter.”  Cain smiled as he took her hand and kissed her forehead.

They headed down to the public ritual room, where they would greet their guests. Raevanne waved a hand and the room glowed with candlelight. Mystery waved her hand and the
Hell Hounds
latest music filled the air. Cain said a magickal welcoming so their guests could come forth.

The air above the inverted pentagram on the floor vibrated. Slowly, the shapes of a robed man and woman took form. The tall man had curly, blond hair, which hung halfway down his back. His amber brown eyes twinkled with merriment. His build was muscular but not too muscular and it was covered in a rich, velvety, cranberry red robe. Mystery sniffed the air, he smelled of cinnamon and musk. He smiled at her and her toes curled with lust. He turned to take the hand of the voluptuous woman standing beside him; she flipped straight waist length russet brown hair over her shoulders. Her eyes were a smug, self-satisfied grey. She was covered in an orange velvet robe. She smelled of patchouli and clove. She turned and looked at Mystery with disdain. Mystery smiled at her, the way she would a mildly amusing squirrel or rat. The woman blushed and quickly looked away.

“Raevanne, you are always a vision. It has been too long, my friend!”  He stepped forward, letting go of the woman’s hand so he could hug her.

“Yes, it has been too long.”  She touched his face. “It is always a joy.”

“Cain.”  He bowed his head.

“Oh stop that!” Cain embraced his lifelong friend. He turned to Mystery and motioned her to him. He put his arm around her. “This is my daughter, Mystery.”

Mystery went to shake his hand and he kissed her cheek and hugged her. She almost moaned aloud at the pleasure.

“Behave, Samael.”  Raevanne scolded. “Mystery, Samael is an incubus, in fact he commands all iniquitous beings. He answers to Lord Belial.”

“We’ve met Mother, before I came to live at the aerie.”  Cain coughed. “He was a visitor to my home a few times.”

“Oh.”  Raevanne swallowed a smile. “I had forgotten.”

“Oh!  Where are my manners?  Mystery this is my consort, Serafina. She was Roodmasi until I stole her away.”  He smiled at the woman.

“I have heard much about you, Serafina.”  Mystery nodded at her.

“Princess.”  Serafina did a quick bow. “Raevanne.”  She turned a beaming smile on Cain. “Cain.”  She bowed her head.

“Serafina.”  Cain and Raevanne said in unison. Cain took Raevanne’s hand and ignored Serafina. “Shall we?”  He ushered them from the room.

“Raevanne the aerie looks magnificent.”  Samael’s face was lit with pleasure as they walked through the aerie to the Shivana’s dining room.

“Thank you. We are almost ready for Saturday night.”

“Yes. Can you believe, my friends, only three nights until the Master’s reign begins?”  Samael could not contain his joy at the thought.

“At last.”  Cain smiled.

“Natas Sevil!”  Raevanne said as they turned into the dining room. A black linen cloth covered the handmade oval ebony table. Purple crystal plates and silver goblets shone in the light of dozens of green candles. A centerpiece of dragonroot, irises, jasmine, and rhododendrons combined smells to be intoxicating. Each man seated his women.