The Sunset Prophecy (Love & Armageddon #1) (14 page)

“
I am close to finding my brother. I request you rein in the Seraphs.”

Israfel grunted.
“Do you understand that they hunt your brother, not for pleasure, but for necessity?”

“
I realize that. But you risk the wrath of Jrue if Theolodus is murdered. It is highly beneficial for all interests involved that you exhaust every last minute before you call for his execution.”

The creature dug deep within its d
iaphragm and bellowed a hearty chuckle that sounded as if it were filtered through a digital synthesizer and mixed with the thickest phlegm. “There is no time, Lelantos.”

“
Of course there is, we have yet to feel the earth shake beneath our feet, the sky is still blue, and the oceans still ebb and flow with the cycles of the moon.”

Israfel turned its large body toward Adam and opened its wing, revealing its incongruous and malformed shape. Israfel
’s crouched body was at least 30 meters tall. His body was covered in the darkest and most matted fur. A plethora of red, plump, and drooling lips covered every inch of his body. A set of large, dried lips opened on its head, revealing a pair of bulging eyes from within the grotesquely positioned mouths.

Adam glared at Israfel with a strange mix of sorrow and intimidation.

Israfel pointed its large clawed finger toward a tall, thin, brass instrument in the center of the rotunda. A large golden pipe jutted out from its side. Encircling the cylindrical instrument were decorative angels, serpents, and Hebraic symbols. “I’ve blown through the trumpet. One of my lips will officially signal the call, but I do not know which pair of lips has been ordained by Adonai,” the Seraphim stated. “One blow per day as described by the Prophecy. I am on day three.”

“
I see,” said Adam, in a surrendered tone. “So, if it’s going to happen soon, why send Seraphs against my brother?”

“
The codex is missing,” said the creature. “Your brother is the suspect.”

“
Impossible.”

“
The Apocryphon has vanished and has been traced here in Los Angeles, in the same exact place where we have all gathered to fulfill the Prophecy.”

“
Theolodus doesn’t know about the Apocryphon. He was just a child when it was created,” Adam implored. “I plead for your reasoning.”

“
Theolodus is a demigod, his allegiance is constantly in a schism. Who was his mother?”

Adam pursed his lips and lowered his brow. He
’d realized that the Seraphim had done his homework. Theolodus was indeed a threat to the Prophecy. Adam breathed softly, “Thalia. Thalia is his mother.”

Israfel purred, i
ts sound traveling toward Adam’s chest, reverberating inside his fleshed cavity. “Your brother is a danger to your existence.”

“
No, he wouldn’t do that,” Adam said, shaking his head. “His allegiances are pure, but he’s rebellious and has been seduced by the pleasures of mortality. I know, I’ve been seduced by them. Look at me; this bloated flesh vessel is punishment for my rebelliousness.”

“
Thalia must not be freed. The Apocryphon and two-thirds of the key are missing.”

Adam breathed loudly and bent over his knees.
“Ah, geez.”

“
He must be terminated,” said Israfel, calmly.

“
I have candidates,” Adam said, digging into the pocket of his tattered suit. He pulled out a sheet of paper with lists of names. “These are the candidates. I have them right here. I just need to find a way to get them all in one place. They all fit Theolodus’s profile.”

Israfel dispatched the other wing away from his body and stepped off his rock. He walked up toward Adam on all fours. Adam looked away as numerous mouths collectively br
eathed on him. Israfel inspected the names on the piece of paper. “Matthew Nix,” the creature hissed.

“
Yes, the boxer.”

“
I know.”

“
What do you know?”

“
His resemblance is God-like. His arrival unexpected, but I am still unsure,” said Israfel. “One of the ancient pits of Hades is underneath the ring in the arena where he’s fighting on Sunday. One of our fault lines runs right underneath the arena. Plan your interrogation carefully, Lelantos.”

Adam grinned in
self-reflection. “Yes, yes. Can you call on one of your Southern California specials during the fight?”

“
An earthquake will happen. This is your last chance, Lelantos. Your brother better be on that list. Let this event be the precursor to the harvest,” hissed Israfel. “Knowing of his partial allegiance to humanity, he will surely reveal himself when he sees his brethren in trouble.”

“
Yes, of course. Israfel, you are so noble. Uriel is such a rat bastard. You can tell him I said so.”

All the lips on Israfel smiled in unison, as he sat on his hind legs.
“Do not worry about Uriel. He has his duties.”

Adam looked around the rotunda.
“How do I get out of here?”

The mouthy beast pointed toward the tombs.
“There is a ladder on the left of the catacombs.”

“
Thank you.”

Israfel called on Adam as he made his way toward the catacombs.
“Theolodus’ mother must remain imprisoned until the harvest.”

“Yes, course.”
Adam nodded and continued toward the exit. He climbed three sets of grips before letting go. He climbed back down and turned to Israfel and panted, “Are you sure this is the only way out of here?”

Israfel nodded.

The bottom of Adam’s feet bubbled with energy. He glanced and grinned at Israfel with embarrassment, realizing he had to use his evocation of propulsion for such a mild escape.

18

Fish and Loaves

“
L
ogan, wake up. You gotta see this,” Keelen said loudly, as she banged on his bedroom door. “Yo, sleepyhead.”

Logan opened the door and
peeked his head through the door. His, thick, silky head of hair sprouted in random directions. He scrunched his eyes at Keelen and curved his lips in a smile. “Let me guess. The recession has ended?”

“
What? Why would the recession end? No, listen. You got to see the news channels, they are going crazy. They don’t know what to make of the situation.”

Logan followed Keel
en toward the living room. The flat screen was tuned to the cable news channel’s live feed.

Thousands of distressed homeowners have received letters not only stating that their defaults have been reversed, but that their mortgage balances have been all but been eliminated. However, the Dow has lost more than 4,000 points since this morning, putting the market in its first panic since 2008.

Keelen raised her eyebrows with uncertainty. “Is this good news or bad news?”

“
Depends on who you ask,” Logan smirked.

On the television, the
modelesque talking head segued to a prerecorded segment of an infamous firebrand by the name of Vic Cervelli, who was known for his pro-market rants. He immediately began his trademark yells as soon as the camera turned to him on the trading floor.

Megan, this is another giveaway to the lazy takers of this once great country. We here on the floor are tired, absolutely tired of the fruits of our labor being bandied about like peanuts at a circus. What
’s the point? What is the goddamn point if the bankers are now drinking the Kool-Aid?

The stockbrokers
on the floor cheered at Cervelli’s bluster. Vic grabbed what little hair he had on his head and began tugging at as if it were a straw bale with insurmountable frustration. He stomped around in random circles. The stockbrokers began throwing tickets and receipts at him, in some sort of bizarre ritualized rally.

Logan began chuckling loudly at the television.
“This is nuts.”

“
But the markets are crashing,” Keelen said, with clueless worry.

“
So? I wouldn’t be surprised if you have a little more money in your bank account. Who do you bank with again?”

“
United American Bank.”

“
Check your account.”

Keelen hurriedly raced toward the computer and pulled up the online banking portal. Her eyes widened with excitement.
“What the hell? I had five dollars in my account yesterday. Now there’s a couple hundred. How’s this happening?”

“
Mel Scherzer, C.E.O. of U.A B. drafted legislation, with the help of Congress, which legalized predatory interest rates on credit cards. It was a disgusting form of usury. There’s memos floating around showing direct communication with the bank and some members of Congress that lead this this particular legislation, which all began with borderline bribery. A little birdie informed Mel that everyone would know of his escapades and he somehow changed his heart and mind about everything and is now just making it up to you.”

Keelen stood stone-faced in front of her computer.
“I feel kind of guilty with this money in my account. How do you know what you’re saying is true?”

“
Is Mark Cohen from Marcus and Samuelson on the hot seat?”

“
I think so. Slick dude who runs the largest bank, right?”

“
Well, he just liquidated a quarter of the investment bank’s value. Am I right?”

“
Yeah, I think so. I remember them talking about it before you woke up.”

Keelen and Logan
’s heads quickly veered toward the television.
Mark Cohen, C.E.O. of Marcus and Samuelson could not be reached for an interview. Investors of the world’s largest investment bank are calling for Mr. Cohen’s immediate resignation, as a quarter of the bank’s assets have been liquidated to distressed homeowners, sending the Dow and other global markets into a tumble.

Keelen chastised Logan.
“Why are you smiling and how do you know all this? This disruption of global markets isn’t good.”

Logan stared at the television with a fixed smile.
“This should’ve happened a long time ago.” He turned toward Keelen and put his hands on top of his head, trying to tame his hair without the aid of a mirror. “So, you still up for dinner?”

“
Logan, there’s probably chaos in the streets. How can you want to go to dinner?”

“
I guarantee there is no chaos in the streets.”

“
Fine, I guess. But I’m paying for drinks with this blood money.”

“
You just got your blood money back. That 25% interest rate you paid on that card was ridiculously unjust,” Logan said. “I’m going put some clothes on.”

Wrinkles gathered on Keelen
’s forehead as she sat on Logan’s couch in deep reflection. Her phone vibrated. The cricket chirp signaled the arrival of an email. The email was from Medi-Shield, the insurance company she had coverage with while working at the gallery.

We wish to inform you that your coverage will continue uninterrupted until you have informed us that you have found another provider or have found the sufficient resources that would help you renew coverage with us. Thank you for being a
Medi-Shield customer and we are happy to make sure you continue to feel secure about your health coverage needs.

Keelen put her phone into her purse and gazed at the television with a zombie-like stare.
“Logan, did you put me on your medical plan?”

“
Oh, you know what?” Logan answered from inside his room. “I forgot to add you. I’ll give you the application when I’m done getting ready.”

“
No rush,” Keelen said, smiling. “Somehow I’m still covered with my old insurance.”

Logan
’s laugh traveled through the living room. “Good to see that the health insurance companies are on the bandwagon, too.”

—
oOo—

Logan
purposely drove his silver and black, Audi R8 through the interconnected neighborhoods of West L.A. He weaved his two-door supercar through the suddenly gridlocked boulevards and slowed his car down to a purr as he drove on the residential streets, ogling at people’s homes like a curious and benevolent voyeur. Keelen sat comfortably in the leather, bucket seat, transfixed on her phone, reading the up to the minute reports on the day’s happenings.

“
Look at them,” Logan said, pointing toward a modest home, with tall unkempt grass on its front yard.

Families were gathered on the sidewalks, talking to one another about their sudden bouts of fortune. Other streets had impromptu block parties. People were crossing the street in front of Logan
’s car with carefree smiles and raucous cheers. Children rode their bicycles throughout the evening; others played catch with one another, escaping the numbing sensations of television and video games. Keelen stared at her phone then out the window and back on her phone again. “I’ve never seen people this happy before, but there is so much dread online.”

“
Quit reading what’s on your phone or go to websites with more user generated content,” Logan said, trying to pull Keelen out from her mopey funk. “There’s a revolution going on.”

“
The White House has just issued a statement saying that they had nothing to do with the sudden liquidation of financial institutions. They’re claiming it was all compulsory,” Keelen said, while staring at her phone’s screen. “What does compulsory mean?”

Logan chuckled lightly.
“It means that the banks reached deep, deeply into their hearts and provided some much needed charity for once.”

Keelen ignored Logan
’s subtle sarcasm and said, “The look of anguish from the president doesn’t make me feel good about all this.”

“
Ha, of course. His ear is being chewed off by a lot of people that have lost a lot of money. The game of greed is highly volatile. They knew what they were getting themselves into,” Logan said.

He made a right
-hand turn onto Santa Monica Boulevard and headed straight toward the restaurant. Many of the small shops along the way were experiencing a sudden wave of new business, as the sidewalks seemed more crowded than usual.

Keelen looked away from the window and saw that she was receiving a call from Cindy.

“Do you mind?” she asked Logan.

Logan shook his head lightly and said,
“I don’t mind, go ahead.”

“
Hello?” Keelen said, smiling coyly at Logan.

“
You’re not going to believe this,” Cindy said, with excitement coloring her voice.

Keelen
rolled her eyes at Logan.

“
Remember that ball I showed you at the diner.”

“
Yeah.”

“
It rolled.”

Keelen laughed.
“What do you mean it rolled?”

Cindy cut Keelen off,
“It’s not funny.”

“
Sorry, but a ball is supposed to roll.”

“
Don’t you remember? I brought a ball into the diner and it refused to roll but I would push it and it would just slide?”

“
Okay, I remember now,” Keelen said.

“
I pointed the rod at the ball and it rolled.”

“
Really?” Keelen said, glancing over at Logan.

Logan glanced back suspiciously.

“It rolled all the way toward the front door,” Cindy said, worried. “I’m beginning to freak out. This is some spooky shit.”

“
Just put it away for right now,” Keelen said.

“
What time are you coming home?”

“
I don’t know, around eleven maybe?”

“
Where are you?” Cindy asked. “All the crap on the news is starting to scare me.”

“
I’m with Logan. We’re going to dinner at...” she said, looking at Logan for the name of the restaurant.

“
Perry’s Steakhouse,” said Logan.

“
...Perry’s Steakhouse,” Keelen said to Cindy.

“
Be a good girl,” said Cindy.

“
I’m just having dinner with my boss, no biggie.”

“
Please promise me you’ll be home, okay?”

“
All right, put the books and the rods and the balls all away till I get home. Check your bank account while you’re at it, you might have a little something extra in there for a movie or something until I get home.”

—
oOo—

Keelen chewed a piece of her moist and succulent New York strip. She hummed loudly as her eyes rolled
to the back of her head. She then took a sip of her third glass of Merlot, washing down the fine sliver. “Thank you,” she slurred.

“
You’re very welcome,” Logan smiled, sitting back in the booth, taking in the bustling scenery.

The restaurant was full of new patrons. Perry
’s was usually a place for L.A.’s elite to be seen, but tonight it was filled with new faces. Typically, regulars wore nice suits and boutique dresses; tonight some wore jean shorts, while others sported t-shirts and sneakers.

The restaurant was able to fulfill Logan
’s reservation in a timely manner, despite the long wait time for dinner. There was a flurry of new cash being injected into the local economy tonight. Logan raised his glass at Keelen for a toast, as he sensed his plan was coming to fruition.

“
Here’s to a new prosperous age for all.”

Keelen lifted her Merlot and tapped Logan
’s glass. She took another sip and said, “You have something to do with this, don’t you?”

“
Me? I don’t have that much power.”

“
You at least contributed to it,” Keelen said, with a wry smile. “This has something to do with your project. That lady you were interviewing. It had something to do with her, didn’t it?”

Logan raised his eyebrows and then gave Keelen a slight nod.
“Maybe.”

Keelen
’s phone vibrated, it was Matt. She looked at Logan for a reaction. Logan sipped his wine and shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t care, answer it.”

Buzzed, Keelen waved her hand dismissively.
“Nah, I’ll call him later,” she said, as she accidentally kicked Logan’s shin. “That wasn’t me playing footsies, just so you know.”

“
It actually kind of hurt, so no, I didn’t think you were playing footsies with me.”