“To each his own,” Michael muttered, looking as if such a life was his worse
nightmare. “How can we help?”
“Well, it has been quite a while,” Keir said, “but do I remember correctly that you told me you’re . . . Demons?”
Smiling broadly, Kari flashed him her fangs and bestially sharp teeth. “We are indeed.”
“And, am I to understand that Demons have certain . . . powers?”
“In a manner of speaking,” Michael explained. “Not much like in stories, I
suppose. We’re stronger and faster that humans, and heal quicker. Kari can use Hemomancy, but I never learned. I guess you could call that magic, but it really wears her out fast to use it for anything big enough to be useful to a rebellion. We’ve both been trained to fight by the best.”
“Have you ever heard of werewolves,” Kari asked.
Keir nodded.
“That’s us,” Michael grinned. “When we want to, we can turn into giant beasts.”
“Giant? Like how giant?”
“Size of your shop,” Michael shrugged. “Approximately.”
“Excellent! I’ve got an idea. Could I persuade the two of you to, uh, transform and say, run around the city chasing people? No one here has even imagined beasts that large, much less seen them running around growling and howling and showing their teeth like they mean to eat every last person they can catch. It will cause panic and chaos like you wouldn’t believe.”
“Sure,” Kari shrugged, looking to Michael. “But just so you know, there’s a time limit, unless we actually do start eating people. A beast that large has an awfully fast metabolism and requires quite a bit of fresh meat to keep going. Twenty minutes maximum, give or take.”
Keir swallowed audibly.
“Oh relax,” Michael said, slapping him on the shoulder. “We’ve never actually eaten anyone. We may be monsters, but we aren’t monsters. The Apostle on the other hand . . .”
Keir looked confused.
“We have reason to believe that the Apostle might be like us,” Kari explained.
“You mean he’s a Demon too,” Keir asked.
“Well,” Michael explained. “A Heretic, anyway. We explained to you about
Heretics, remember? He’ll have the same sorts of abilities that we do.”
“Then it’s a good thing you arrived when you did,” Keir said. “Your strength
may be needed to capture him. How do you know that he’s a Heretic? He always wears that mask and hooded cloak.”
“We creatures of darkness know our own,” Michael said proudly.
“I see,” Keir said.
“So, you overthrow the tyrant and reunite families,” Michael said. “Then what?
Are you sure you can just leave leadership behind and go back to your little shop like nothing happened?”
“There are always ambitious people ready and able to take charge,” Keir said.
“And what if the people fight for things to remain the way that they are,” Kari asked.
Face going blank, Keir obviously hadn’t even thought of the possibility.
“Sometimes sheep want to remain sheep,” Kari explained. “You’ll fight to keep what’s important to you, and sometimes, so will they. Are you prepared for that? You could be starting a long and bloody civil war here, and I think you know something about the horrors of civil wars, don’t you?”
All of the color was draining from Keir’s face.
“I saw those people on the street,” Kari continued. “Many of them truly believe in Cain and conformity. They practically worship the Apostle for what he’s done here.
What happens when that religious fervor becomes righteous anger against you for destroying their perfect society?”
“I hadn’t thought of that,” Keir muttered to himself. “I never thought people would want to stay like this, given their freedom back. I’m sure we can work through it if the problem arises.”
“I’m sure you’ll think of something,” Kari said. “I’m just trying to point out that whatever you think, you’re not done with this tomorrow night. It could take years to sort things out afterward and possibly even a civil war. No one wants war, but religion is a curious thing. People will do horrible things in the name of their gods, believing their actions justified and divinely forgiven. Speaking of gods, did this world have any before the Apostle arrived?”
“There was an Overlord that was said to be the Son of God. He reigned for two thousand years before the Apostle beheaded him, even though execution is illegal here. It was broadcast in the same way the Apostle broadcast earlier today. No one lifted a finger to stop it. It was just like back in Alkazier. The Apostle barely has to speak of Cain and people flock to join him. I don’t understand how anyone could have such power over other people. It can’t be possible, yet here we are. Who is this Apostle? You seem to know him from before we first met. Where does he come from? What does he want?
Why is he doing these things?”
“You probably know more about him than we do,” Kari said. “What I can tell you is that Cain is the enemy of all life. He’s imprisoned at the far reaches of space and time, but if he escapes it could mean the end of everything.”
“The end of everything? What do you mean?”
“The end of all things,” Michael said. “Long ago it was prophesied that the Beast, Cain, would be set free on the last day to fight against the Champion of Heaven in the final battle. If Cain breaks free, the end of the universe won’t be far behind him.”
“The last time Cain was free he nearly destroyed all of existence,” Kari added.
“Because of an ancient sin, Cain was cursed by god with true immortality. He can’t die, no matter how much he tries, and his desire for death has driven him utterly mad. The only way that he can end his own existence is if he ends existence itself. He doesn’t care about all the innocents he’ll take with him. All he wants is an end to his life.”
“But what does any of that have to do with this world and the people here
conforming,” Keir asked.
“I wish I knew,” Kari shrugged. “I don’t understand it either.”
“The Apostle teaches that once enough worlds believe in Cain, and all false gods have been destroyed, he’ll return to show us the way,” Michael said. “Maybe he’s just using that line to find a way to set Cain free.”
“Whatever his plans and intentions,” Kari said, “we know the Apostle for evil, and we can’t let him have his way here or anywhere else. Not to mention the fact that he’s got his hands on our useless brother. We’ll help stop him in any way that we can.”
Chapter 17: Frustration
Everything had always been cold on the World Closest to Perdition, except in the killing arena. Battle was always hot, even when the sweat froze on the Apostle’s skin.
Despite her abject hatred of the Council, and the world she’d grown up on, she found the cold to be strangely comforting, like an old friend that had seen her through the most difficult parts of her life. The temperature had been turned down to make the prisoner more uncomfortable, but the Apostle was right at home in it.
Stirring in the back of her mind, Cain seemed restless of late, despite everything proceeding according to his whims. Almost everything she’d done on this world of technological wonders was at his order.
On the World Closest to Perdition, she’d heard his voice clearly in her head, but as she moved further away from it, she needed the help of meditation to receive his orders. His emotions still bled into hers, and she could always feel him watching through her eyes, but all she ever heard from him this far away from home, was his laughter.