Lunaramblings
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2008
- Posts
- 1,225
Atlanta. A Decade Ago.
John and Chas were sprinting through an old warehouse.
"Chas, are they ready?"
"Yeah. I think. I did just what you said. Looks like they are right on us. This better work! 3! 2! 1!"
As Chas counted down to 1, the duo hit the ground, sliding on their stomachs through a doorway. As the beings behind them came hot and hard, they hit the doorway and were sliced into several pieces before exploding into ash and smoke.
"Good job."
"You wanna explain what the hell just happened? How did cultists just explode?"
"They weren't cultists. Well, they were, but they were also vampires. Didn't mention that. Sorry. But the strands I had you run, not fishing line like I said. Spun silver. Spun by a certain magical being. Wasn't just straws to gold, he also spun straw to reams of silver. Vampires are deathly allergic to silver. Running pell-mell, at those supernaturally enhanced speeds, they hit the lines like they were a cheese cutter. Poof."
"Next time you decide I am going to turn a door into a giant cheese cutter for vampires, I would appreciate a heads up."
"About the vampires or the plan?" John grins as he puts the cigarette into the corner of his mouth.
"Both. You really are an ass John. No wonder no one else is willing to do this with you." Chas laughs as he pulls the lighter from his pocket and tosses it to John. "So, your contact, he's here? Think he can help?"
John nods. Unwilling to speak the truth to the man that has come so far, further than anyone else, that he had no idea if this contact would actually help him. Or if he was even on the right team these days.
As they climbed the stairs to the office in the back of the warehouse they saw the shadow moving in the windows. The shadow stops and seems to peer into the darkened warehouse. Looking not at them, but through them.
"You have come a long way usurper. Why should I not smite you now?" The voice booms through out the warehouse, shaking them to their core.
Because ya git, you know it's the right choice. You see too much to stand idle. You may not like me. Hell, I don't much like me sometimes, but there is more happening than I can handle alone. I don't have anyone else that I can trust."
The darkness becomes light, and the warehouse is replaced by a meadow. Standing only a few yards ahead is a man.
"Your aura confirms that you are a man seeking redemption. This is a cause I cannot deny. I will assist you. But know this, one of those among your forces will betray you. They will take something most dear from you. When this happens you will be consumed by rage, hatred, and revenge. You must not act on this. You must keep your head and complete what you have sought to do. Vengeance will be yours later if you still require it."
"While your looking ahead, you want to give me the lucky lotto numbers too? Look, whatever support you can lend I'll take it. You clearly know who we are facing. And as for betrayal... we'll see."
As John finishes speaking there is a flash of light and John and Chas are standing outside Jasper's Hollow.
"That's what he calls helping?"
"He will be there when we need him mate. The Stranger is an odd one, but he is a man of his word."
Two Days Later.
The battle was raging on. John's final stand against the Brujaheria. He had called to him as many people as he could. He called in every favor he had. But secretly, he worried it still wouldn't be enough.
John and Zatanna were back to back, casting spells in unison. Taking down wave after wave of demons. The leaders of the Brujaheria stood in the center of the rubble of what had once been a church. They called forth such power. So many demons, beasts, monsters.
Chas was flanking on one side of the field. He was fighting side by side with Ystina, their blades flickering in the light of dawn. She wielded Caliburn with skill and grace. While Chas wielded an unnamed blade with passion and strength. The two were able to stave off and defeat many of the demons before they were pinned down by a monstrous dragon that had been called from one of the portals.
The mystics continued their magicks, trying with all their might to eliminate this final threat. One of them lobbed an orb of darkness straight toward Constantine's heart, but just before it collided, a light flashed and The Phantom Stranger stood before him, his amulet held out, the orb shriveling and dissipating to nothing on impact. Now with the Stranger at their side, Zatanna and Constantine began their progress. They decimated wave after wave.
As the battle reached the base of the alter, the Brujaheria stopped casting and turned their heads to the sky. From the sky, like a bolt of lightning, streaks the Angel. Manny lands before them. Standing in the middle of the two forces. His face hard and stoic. His eyes no longer seeking, now they have a predatory glint, like those of hawk.
Manny's hand blaze with holy fire. He turns and he faces John and his forces. "I'm sorry John. I told you. Angels, we don't get choices. We have rules. You were never expected to get this far. I truly regret this John."
Manny raises his hand and traces a sigil in the air. The flames empower the sigil and it streaks toward The Phantom Stranger. It engulfs him and he is stripped away.
"You bastard! I did what you asked! I... I had Faith. And now, you sanctimonious son of a bitch, I am going to finish what I started. Whether your in my way or not!"
Manny waves his hand and a wash of flame engulfs Zatanna and she too is gone. He flinches as the pair of blades collide with his wings. Caliburn bursts to flames as it slices into one of his wings. Manny falls to his knees as Chas' blade explodes. Shrapnel is driven into Chas and he is sent tumbling back.
Manny stands and turns to face Ystina. "Unfortunately for you, the power you wield is not yours. Your blade is more of a threat than you are girl. Be gone." As Manny speaks, his words become like arrows. They pierce her soul. They poison her mind and before she realizes what has happened, she is whisked away in another flurry of fire.
"Its just you John. I don't want to hurt you. I was ordered to stop you. And I will. Please, John, just quit. Join them. You can't win. Not here. Not against what they are."
Across the courtyard lays Chas. His body is bent, broken. He reaches into his shirt and fumbles a small medallion from his shirt. His bloody fingers clutch the medal and he closes his eyes as he begins to pray. "Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray: and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls."
John grits his teeth and begins flinging every spell he knows. Flashes of fire, ice, lightning, all lashing around Manny and The Brujaheria. The cloaks obscuring them are torn asunder. Manny is knocked to the ground. Unmoving. As John moves forward, thunder explodes in the sky above.
Across the yard, there is a shimmer of light as Michael the Archangel appears before Chas. "Hello Francis. I heard your call my son."
"Then help us. Strike down these demon bastards." Chas coughs blood from his lungs as he struggles to stand, to look the Angel in his eyes.
"Sorry child, not demons. My purview is protection of man from the minions of Hell. The Brujaheria, they were never demonic. They are angels. Angels that have taken the ambiguity of the Creator's message and used it to justify a purging of mankind. If they were fallen, I would strike them down. But unfortunately, they are very adept at walking the razor's edge. By His Will, my hands are stayed."
Chas struggles to his feet. A force of will alone. "Then allow me the strength. Lend me the power and protection of your blessing in battle. That is well within your purview isn't it? Give me the power to strike down these perversions of Faith."
"You are clever. It is this cleverness that has caused me to have such respect for your kind. Despite all that you face, all the things that are thrown your way, you always find a way. You find some means to overcome. And so you have once again. You step into a battle which will decide your race's fate. As such, I give you my blessing. And with it, my sword. Wield it and all it's powers well. Until this battle ends, you will have the blessing and power of the Archangel Michael, Defender of the Faith. Use it well, for when the sword drops, your life, all of them, will be forfeit." With a shimmer he is once again gone.
Chas pulls the blade left in his place. As he holds the blade his wounds heal. The sky opens and rain begins to fall. And as the rain comes from the sky, with it, comes the army of the Creator. As these angelic warriors land on the field, the Brujaheria, now revealed to be angelic in their own right, some forth their followers. An army of monsters and angels alike, is called forth and a great battle commences. The Army of The Lord attacks their foes with abandon. John is struck by a blow from one of these beasts called by the Darkness. He falls to the ground, and as he sees a blade coming toward him, it is blocked by another. Chas stands above him. His body is glowing and he wields the blade of St. Michael as if it were his own. He overwhelms foe after foe. John watches as he corners the Brujaheria, and as they all strike out at once. The impact of their powers shatters Chas, but as it does he reflects the energy back with the blade, striking them down as well. As the sword falls to the ground, the battle ends. The minions of the Rising Darkness have turned tail. The Angelic Host are now departing. And John is left holding his dying friend once again.
"Chas, you bastard... what the Hell were you doing? You can't leave me. We were a good team mate, and I need someone to keep my ass in line. Why... the spell I cast, it should have protected you... come on you bastard, pull together!"
"I am truly sorry John. He knew this would be a sacrifice. He accepted that he would pay the price to wield such power. I have never seen a human able to wield my blade so effectively. He was a worthy soul. He will be celebrated by the songs of the Angels."
"The same ones that caused this? Does your Master know what you lot have been up to? Does he know that the Angels were leaving doors open for demons and other cursed and damned beings to find their way into the world he created and gave to his favorite child?"
"As I am sure you suspect John, my Father has been silent for some time. He has been disappointed with not only his first children, but yours as well. He never meant for the darkness, hatred, negativity, to be so powerful. He has seen all of his creations perverted. He has taken a leave, and while he has been away, there are those that have bastardized his teachings and his laws. You and your people defeated them today. They were clever enough to act through intermediaries so as not to draw the ire of me and my brothers and sisters. But in calling their armies to face mine, they have crossed that line. I will personally enshrine your friend, Francis, in the hall of the Angelic Host."
Give him back..." John's eyes are red, and wet. He is trying to hold back his tears, but he is crushed. "I have seen your kind do it. I have seen your kind bring back the dead. He earned such respect? Then bring him back for me?!"
"I am sorry John. He made his choice." Michael shimmers as he again disappears. Leaving John alone.
Every last fiber of his friend is gone. John screams at the sky, the rain pounding down, washing more than just the blood away with it.