Pursuit of the Zodiacs (68 page)

“WAIT, WAIT, THEY ARE LEAVING, AND IN URGENCY TOO!”

Alarms sounded and all of their forces gave up their posts. With their army repositioned, Michael and Raphael led them out of the Dimension and into spacecraft.

“You are right, Exodus,” Leviticus said, while watching the proceedings through his binoculars.

“But wait, what has caused even Michael himself to leave in such a manner?” Ezra questioned.

Bishop emerged from the clouds.

“The one true God himself,” Leviticus stated as he bowed.

The rest knelt before their God as Bishop reached the roof.

“What’s happened here?” he asked as he landed.

“Michael was lost until Raphael intervened with thousands of enemy soldiers, my Lord,” Ezra answered.

Leviticus added, “They are fleeing North, frightened by your coming, my Lord. If we hurry, we can catch them.”

Bishop replied, “No need for that. Their time will come.”

Exodus asked, “Why not now, my Lord?”

Bishop answered, “We wait for the so-called God of Man to take the bait in Rome, and there he will be destroyed.”

Leviticus probed, “Bait?”

Bishop explained, “Yes, bait … the Zodiacs. After all those unfortunate fools are done annihilating one another, we will kill all who remain. There’s no need for us to intervene as of yet, and it will save us some casualties.”

Exodus asked, “What about the Alliance?”

Bishop said, “Between our Kingdom and Lucifer? Never. I’m certain he has already planned an end for us … also undoubtedly planned before we met at the negotiating table. To think there will ever be such opportunities offered by the likes
of that serpent is preposterous. I have foreseen what this Universe will become if it is ever in his control. An alliance is unacceptable.”

The remaining Master Archangels departed with the Mover of Suns back to their Kingdom.

“THE TALISMEN, THEY APPROACH.”

Daniel gave a warning after witnessing the riders through binoculars.

“Are you certain?” Goliath replied. Daniel handed the binoculars over to him. Goliath remarked, “But there are only three of them. Where’s the fourth?”

Daniel said, “I’m not sure, but I’m certain those three will lead us to the Pope.”

The Talismen spun around on their black, pale and red hybrid horses. After a full stop, they analyzed their observers. “Well, we can forget about following them,” Daniel said.

Lucille unleashed a barrage of sniper fire. But, all to no avail, as the triangular shaped illuminating shields they possessed accomplished their task. The bullets ricocheted into nearby fixtures. She used a new strategy. If she couldn’t best the rider, she’d best the horses they rode. The strategy met success. She took out the legs of their horses, and they trampled into the ground.

“Great job, Lucille. Now is the time, Goliath,” Daniel said.

They met the Talismen in the street. Goliath sent an off-balance Dearth plummeting into a nearby building courtesy of his new sledgehammer axe.

Daniel engaged with Feud. Their swords collided, but neither one could find flesh … only the spark of metal clanking upon one another. Feud backhanded Daniel, who, as he fell, shot out a burst of wind against which Feud braced for impact. He stopped a few feet after his boots gripped the pavement. Daniel removed blood from his lips and armed himself with his Ring of Death Star weapon. With his forcing winds, he guided it towards his intended target. Feud pressed a button; a round gold metal Super Shield spiraled from a compartment and deflected the five pointed blades residing on Daniel’s weapon. The wind returned Daniel’s Ring of Death Star weapon to Feud. He entrapped it with an effervescence of fire and sent it crashing through a window of a nearby estate. “Use your toys on someone else, Archangel,”
Feud said. Daniel clenched his teeth after losing his new weapon. Feud deflected Daniel’s sword strikes. Using another force of wind, Daniel dodged and shot Feud in the air. Daniel met him halfway and finally impaled the Talisman through his ribcage. Feud shouted in pain; and, in desperation, released fire from his eyes. Daniel shielded himself with his wings and spiraled into the street. After tumbling to a complete stop, he watched Feud flee.

Lucille issued more firepower at Demise as he recovered. Enraged, he gave chase. Despite her level of expertise, she stood no match for one of the Lords of the Underworld. As she fled, she had seconds to decide her fortune: meet Capricorn’s Dead Rising minions as they made their sudden appearance, or meet one of the Dark Lords of the Underworld. The will to live flipped a coin, and she ran towards the swarm of Dead Rising, unraveling everything she had in her inventory. The gap she set for herself allowed her to run right through the small horde. But looking back, Demise still pursued. The Dead Rising grabbed hold and bit at him, slowing down his pace. The bites had no effect on him. He retaliated through decapitation, while barely taking his eyes off the fleeing former Dark Graduate. After destroying a good amount of Dead Rising, he continued in her direction, fully covered with ligaments and blood.

“Damn! I might have overdone it this time, getting involved in Angels’ quarrels. This is beyond my expertise,” she said to herself while running.

Her legs began to tire, and she heard his footsteps trailing not too far behind. An energy blast knocked Demise into a phone booth. Lucille looked up to see where her luck came from. She marked a group of Archangels perched on a rooftop with their laser-powered weapons drawn.

One of the Archangels gave her warning. “Leave, child. He will not rest there forever.”

Lucille obeyed the Archangel she’d never met. The Angel’s name was Remiel, a Master Arch, high in rank with Michael himself.

Remiel continued, “Demise, what are you doing? Go back to your Underworld.”

The Talisman brushed himself off and defiantly pointed to the street, commanding Remiel to come down and face him.

Remiel accepted the challenge. He had his men watch his back for other opposition fighters until the contest ended.

His wings guided him safely down the street. Demise charged, releasing death from his chest. The black mist dented cars and sent street poles crashing down. The Full Moon acted as an emergency light that guided Remiel along an escape from certain death. Demise’s black mist passed, and Remiel banged his blade across his. Remiel’s Super Sword deteriorated Demise’s armor. Remiel pierced his stomach and kicked Demise down. His body slumped against a parked car. Demise uncovered his chest again revealing his Dimension. Remiel fought against its gravitational pull. Debris, garbage and fixtures swept into his black hole. Parked cars budged. While hanging on to one of the fortifications of the ground, the black hole confiscated Remiel’s Super Sword, forcing him to rely on his dagger. With concern, his men observing the skirmish from the roof aimed their weapons at Demise; but Remiel motioned them to stand down. He released his grip and, at full speed, aimed his weapon towards Demises throat. He pressed a button on his shield and it expanded. The shield covered the black hole resting on his enemy’s chest due to its increase in size. He collided with Demise. Stunned by the impact, Demise never saw Remiel’s next move coming as he cut his throat.

MEANWHILE, AT THE DARK GRADUATES’ HEADQUARTERS

They appeared before the Children of Time, all seven of them.

“It’s okay, Noah,” Lisa said. The tears trickling down the face of the Dark Graduate confirmed everything she had anticipated. In exchange for the safety of his own children and family, he escorted the Demons inside a confidential room of the ship to execute them all.

Nicholas, a Demon Master Archangel, along with ten other Archangels, entered the room.

“What is this, Noah? Why was I not informed?” Jeremiah, a Guardian Archangel, questioned the Children of Time, aware of their psychic abilities.

“Leave us, Jeremiah,” Lisa warned the Angel.

Jeremiah refused. “No, this is lunacy! You knew of their coming and said nothing? You must have known I would have none of it, so what’s my fate? And you, Noah, you traitor! You swore an oath to protect them!”

Noah hung his head in shame. He had no answer for the Guardian Archangel.

Lisa said, “You have a choice to leave. Whatever you decide will be your fate, Jeremiah. I am sorry. Soon there will be no place for us when Time transitions into Eternity. This is the only way to make sure it is assured.”

Jeremiah protested, “No, you are confused. Something is wrong here.”

Nicholas, the Demon Master Arch, replied, “The girl is right. Remove yourself, Archangel. We no longer need the services of the Children of Time. After we win this war, only Lucifer, the Lord of Darkness, will be in control of time. He will be the one who decides whether or not it should ever exist.”

Jeremiah said, “Time and the Universe controlled by Lucifer? Ha-ha! I laugh at you Devils!”

Nicholas yelled, “Enough with you! Leave, or join the end of our blades!”

Noah departed, but his betrayal kept the Children of Time and their Guardian company. He heard the sounds of lasers, followed by iron clashing, and the cries of children being slaughtered.

“What have I become?” Noah asked himself. He could barely walk the halls.

Other Council members helped him to his feet. They watched the Children of Time grow up into their eighth year, an age they were forbidden to pass. They swore to protect them with their own lives. But these days changed even the most loyal of men.

Moments later, Nicholas and his followers exited the room with blood covering their garments. Three of his men were absent. “That damned Guardian proved a worthy adversary after all; but, the deed is done.” He left with the remainder of his men to forward the news to his Superiors.

One of the Council members returned to the room. He ran back out vomiting. Disappointment and guilt encouraged his next deplorable act. He forfeited his life by falling on his own sword.

Noah retired to his room uncertain if he should not seek the same end.

Moments later a knock came at his door.

“She lives!” one of the Council members yelled.

“What are you talking about? Keep your voice down!” He begged as he whispered.

In secret, they both ran through the halls and into the room where the Children of Time had been slaughtered. There he saw Lisa badly injured, but alive. She struggled to speak. “I guess time still has a purpose here,” she said to Noah while he held her bloodstained hand.

“Did anyone hear or see you?” Noah asked his colleague.

“No, my Lord. No one else saw her but me,” he answered.

He decided to earn penance for his sins. If he didn’t get her help, she would die. He ordered a secret medical team to come in and work. He closed the door as they underwent protocol. Only a select few knew of her well-being and had given their word to keep it undisclosed. Demons still had a presence onboard headquarters due to the alliance. They would have no qualms about killing her.

“So, what now? Are we to watch as they slay our fellow Zodiac Sister right in front of us?” Aquarius commented as she watched Pisces engage with The Pursuers.

Cancer appeared before them again with his plea. “Please … I know this is difficult to watch considering we are all of her blood, but she has chosen her path of darkness.”