Angela yelped in pain as Simon thrust the blade into her chest. Simon watched her take her last breath and then dropped her to the floor.
“Show yourself.” Simon commanded.
The room filled with black smoke that whirled in a small tornado and then cleared, revealing Asraf.
“What is it?” Asraf asked.
“We need to talk,” Simon said. “I need you to take a ride with me. I’ll explain everything on the way.”
***
Nat had listened attentively to Sheba’s life story, and then he told her about his mission and Simon’s true identity. Sheba tried her best to take Nat seriously, but couldn’t keep from doubling over in laughter.
“I’m serious,” Nat told her.
Sheba held her stomach. “So Simon Clash is the devil’s son, and he’s at war with his sister who crossed over from hell. And a demon told you all of this?”
“Not all of it,” Nat explained. “Just the part about Simon’s sister.”
Sheba laughed again. “And you carry a sword that you’re going to give to the human/angel who’s going to save the world from Simon.”
Nat nodded. “Yeah, I’m serious.”
Sheba looked into his eyes and stopped laughing. “I don’t believe it,” she muttered.
“What?” Nat asked, frustrated.
She touched his cheek. “You really believe what you’re saying.”
“That’s because it’s true, “Nat insisted.
“Okay,” Sheba said. “Let’s just agree that Simon Clash is a very bad man. What do we do now?”
Nat stood and paced. “If they saw you with me, they probably think we’re working together.”
Sheba pressed, “Yeah, but what should we do?”
“We wait,” Nat said.
“Wait?” Sheba asked with a frown.
Nat nodded. “They have the tactical advantage out there. We have the advantage in here. They’ll get restless and storm the place, and we’ll take them out when they do.”
Sheba grabbed a gun off the bed and chambered a round. “It makes sense to me.”
***
Mary found the front door ajar when she arrived at the Corbin home. She sensed something was wrong and pulled a gun from her waist as she slowly crept inside. All of the curtains were pulled over the windows making the place look extremely dark despite it being midday.
“Dad!” she yelled out.
There was no response.
“Marcus!” she called out.
Still no response.
She made her way to the living room and found a pool of blood. Her heart fell and her knees nearly buckled but she inhaled to gather her resolve and aimed the gun out in front of her before following a trail of blood to the kitchen. The trail looked like it had been caused by a body being dragged. Mary stopped at the kitchen door and mentally prepared herself for whatever might be awaiting her.
“Let’s go Mary,” she said to herself.
She rushed through the door prepared to fire, and stopped in her tracks at the sight. There was blood and body parts everywhere. “No,” she screamed and dropped to her knees in despair. Someone had chopped Thomas and Marcus to pieces. Their heads lay bashed on a counter and their limbs lay mixed and spread across the room. Mary sobbed for a few minutes and then climbed to her feet. She thought about Sheba and rushed out the kitchen.
She barely took a step out the kitchen when a shadowy figure stepped out from a corner and swung a sword at her neck and took her head clean off.
Chapter Seventeen
It was a little after sunset when a convoy of three Hummers pulled up to an abandoned warehouse in Buffalo, New York. Martin and four heavily armed men occupied the first Hummer; Saleena, Izzy, and two armed men occupied the second Hummer; and four more armed men occupied the last. The Hummers parked behind a black Rolls Royce Phantom. Martin got out first and motioned Saleena and Izzy to stay in their vehicles while the other men got out and canvassed the area.
Martin stuck his head in Saleena’s vehicle and said, “It’s all clear out here. You want me to check inside.”
“That’s okay,” Saleena said as she and Izzy got out. “I’ll be fine.”
Saleena and Izzy headed into the warehouse. The place was empty except for a single table that sat in the middle of the room. Simon and Asraf sat on one side of the table and two empty chairs sat on the other side. They stood as Izzy and Saleena approached.
Izzy frowned at Asraf. “What are you doing here?”
Asraf smiled. “Relax.”
“Simon,” Saleena greeted her brother with a nod.
“Saleena,” Simon greeted back with a nod. “Please sit.”
They all sat and then Saleena said, “Dad’s been trying to play us against each other to further his own ends.”
Simon laughed. “The devil’s always busy, but I’ve been busy too.”
“What are you up to?” Saleena asked.
“What do you know about the Host?” Simon asked.
Saleena shrugged. “It’s some kind of human/angel who will appear on earth to fight you.”
“Close,” Simon nodded. “The Host will emerge when humanity is at its lowest. When man loses all hope and faith in a better future. When hate and despair fills the hearts of men.”
“When they are most susceptible to evil,” Saleena reasoned.
“Not susceptible,” Simon corrected. “Their fear, hate, despair, and hopelessness feeds evil.”
Izzy said, “Meaning?”
Simon explained, “As you know we demons come from the fire, you reapers come from the smoke, and those annoying beings called angels come from light. Humans think of the fire as a place beneath earth. But it’s not spatial at all. They’re all separate dimensions, separate realities. We don’t climb out of the fire, we cross over. Even when we cross over, we don’t come straight to earth.”
Saleena frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“How do you think it is that we are able to cross over with our own skin? I mean in human form?” Saleena looked baffled. Simon snapped his fingers. “There’s a spirit world that sits between the dimensions of fire, light, smoke, and earth. I discovered that we stop off at this spirit world as we cross over, and that’s where we are processed into human form. It all happens at the speed of light, but I have mastered how to slow the process down and go there at will.”
Saleena’s eyes widened with amazement. “What’s there?”
Simon stared off into space. “That’s the strange thing. I first went there twelve years ago, and there was nothing there. And then I introduced hopelessness, hate, and despair into the world on 9/11, and hundreds of demons migrated there from hell. As I spread the threat of terror throughout the earth, thousands of demons flocked there. It’s like they’re trying to break through to earth. Then a band of angels showed up and struggled to keep them from breaking through.”
“Breaking through what?” Izzy asked.
Wrinkles formed across Simon’s forehead as he answered, “There’s some kind of barrier and it appears to get weaker the more hopeless humanity grows.”
Saleena raised a brow. “Are we talking about rogue possessions?”
Simon shook his head. “No. If these demons get through, they’ll cross over in their natural demon form.”
Asraf added, “The pitiful state of humanity is drawing them to earth.”
Simon continued, “It turns out these demons are a part of a special army dad has created for his other seed. While I’ve been weakening the barrier with terror, Eshu and the other seed have been purchasing corporations all around the globe and running them into the ground. They’ve been fueling unemployment and poverty.”
Izzy’s eyes lit with understanding. “More hopelessness and despair.”
Asraf told Izzy, “And your presence has aided the devil’s efforts against Saleena and Simon.”
>
“How?” Izzy asked defensively.
Asraf told Izzy, “The devil manipulated you and Saleena into crossing over.”
“Impossible,” Izzy protested
Asraf laughed. “The devil’s been planning this for an eternity.” He looked into Izzy’s eyes. “You’ve been dropping souls off in hell for centuries, and then by some coincidence you bumped into Saleena and fell in love with her. Every being in hell is under the devil’s seduction, even those just passing through. He seduced both of you.” He turned to Saleena and said, “You didn’t escape to here, your father sent you here and imprisoned you here. He hopes that you and Izzy’s disruption of the natural life balance here on earth will be the catalyst to calling forth the Host.”
“It doesn’t make sense,” Izzy muttered.
Asraf said, “Lots of powerful and influential men have sold their souls to the devil, which means they’re on your list. The devil has spent the last few days having these powerful men possessed by demons. He’s creating a human network to help his other seed weaken the barrier so he can unleash his army on earth.” Asraf cut his eyes to Saleena and then back to Izzy. “You have to return to the smoke.”
Simon added, “The devil was banking on you being on earth and creating a gateway for his demons to discretely replace certain humans. He made a deal with the reapers. He promised them he’d deal with Saleena and hand you back to them if they agreed not to come after you. His plan was that all three of us would fall at the Host’s sword. We are sacrificial lambs. The devil only wishes for his other seed to rise and rule over the earth. His only aim is to make men suffer; to thrust humanity into a hundred years of hell on earth.”
“How can you be so sure’?” Izzy asked. “You just learned about this other seed.”
Realization spread across Saleena’s face and she told Izzy, “He knows because he always thought it was his destiny to establish my father’s rule on earth.”
Izzy scratched his chin. “I don’t understand what the big deal is. If the other seed wants to make humanity suffer, let him.”
Saleena snapped, “He wants to kill us in the process!”
Simon said, “The other seed cannot control the army as long as we are on earth. He needs us dead.” He pointed at Izzy. “Your being on earth gives us a tactical blind spot.”
Asraf told Izzy, “You have to return to the smoke.” He then told Saleena, “He can’t stay, but he can cross over a few times a year and visit you in the flesh.”
“Is that possible?” Saleena asked in disbelief.
Asraf explained, “He’s already connected to his flesh. You have a summoning blade. All you have to do is summon him. You must pierce his heart with the blade before midnight to send him back into the smoke.”
Simon’s phone rang and he answered and talked for a moment. He turned to Saleena after he hung up. “Good news. My people have cornered the human responsible for delivering the Host’s sword to the Host. We should have the sword in a few hours. No sword means no message for the Host, which means no Host.”
Saleena looked concerned. “But what are we going to do about the devil’s other seed and the new network of demon lords on earth?”
Simon boasted, “I have my own network in place with plants in governments all over the world. We’ll weed out the devil’s network and destroy them one by one.” Simon pulled a small crystal from his pocket. “The Stanton plant was a cover for a lab. I’ve stolen crystal technology from the Order of Light. They used it to trap rogue demons that crossed over. I’ve found a way to use them to transport warrior demons from the spirit world.” He tossed the crystal to Saleena.
Saleena eyed the crystal. “There’s a demon in here?”
Simon nodded. “Yup, and it must obey whoever releases it.” He took the crystal back. “It can only be killed by a sword forged from light or the fire of hell. The only problem is I could only gather a hundred of these crystals.”
Izzy said, “You have a hundred invincible demon soldiers?”
Simon frowned. “No. I had a hundred. Eighty were stolen on the day my three demon lords were killed. It was Eshu.”
Saleena ran her fingers through her hair. “So we have to worry about the Host, the devil’s other seed, and eighty demon warriors dad created to wreck havoc on earth?”
“Yeah,” Simon admitted.”And they have to worry about us.”
Izzy cut in. “I hate to interrupt, but we don’t have much time before I have to go back into the smoke.” Saleena shot him a look of disbelief, and he took her hand into his and told her, “It’s the only way I can help protect you from the devil and the other seed.”
“Go,” Simon told Saleena. “I’ll send a car to your compound to lead your security convoy to my headquarters.”
“But, you don’t—” Saleena started.
Simon raised a hand. “I had your location tracked during our conference call. Just go. I’ll pull you up on everything else I got going when I see you later.”
***
Tess had convinced PJ, Phil, and Kim to go to Atlantic City with her. They sat in a suite at the Taj Mahal drinking champagne and eating from room service. They had been waiting on Greg and Tarsha for more than four hours. At least that’s what Tess made them believe. The truth was that Tess knew Greg and Tarsha weren’t showing up. She was simply waiting for the right opportunity to take care of the real business she had traveled to Atlantic City to handle. She had hoped the newly crossed over demons couldn’t hold their liquor, and they didn’t. They were on their third bottle of champagne when Tess grabbed her cell phone and her handbag and went into the bathroom.
Kim sat on the sofa flanked by Phil and PJ. She slowly began to unbutton her blouse and purred, “I’m getting hot.”
Phil looked at PJ and slid his hands between Kim’s thighs. “Humans call this getting horny.”
“Yeah,” PJ said and kissed Kim on the neck. “Our bodies are telling us we need to have sex.”
Tess emerged from the bathroom with a silenced .9mm Glock in each of her hands. “Party’s over,” she barked.
PJ turned and attempted to stand and Tess sent two slugs into his forehead. Phil held his hands up.
Tess snickered. “Time for you to go home.”
Phil rushed at Tess, and she calmly squeezed two rounds into his forehead and then sent two rounds between Kim’s eyes. Tess watched as black smoke oozed from the bullet holes of each of the dead demons and then tossed the gun in her handbag and walked to another suite up the hall. Tess entered the other suite and stopped in her tracks after stepping into living room. Greg and Tarsha’s bodies lay dead on the floor with two bullet holes in each of their heads, and four ten-year-old boys sat on the sofa. They were identical quadruplets who shared the same wavy hair, mysterious dark eyes, and wore matching black sweaters and black slacks. Tess quickly lowered her head and knelt before the boys.
“My Lord Wille Von Macht,” Tess said. “Your servant Tess the Seductress is at your service.”
The boys were collectively known as Wille Von Macht, and they spoke every word in unison. “Rise,” they ordered.
Tess slowly stood, but kept her gaze lowered. “I have carried out your father’s will. I have brought Prince Simon and Princess Saleena together.”
Wille Von Macht said, “My sources tell me my brother will attempt to take the Host’s sword tonight. He will fail, but his attempt will ensure the emergence of the Host and the Order of Light.”
Tess chuckled. “Your brother foolishly believes he wiped out the Order of Light.”
Each of the boys pulled a crystal from their pockets. “He did not wipe them out, but he did further our cause by manipulating their crystal technology. In any event, it is our intention to allow the Order of Light to consecrate the Host. And then Eshu shall engage her during the Calm of Transformation when she is vulnerable.”
“And what does my Lord demand of me?” she asked.
/>
“You shall accompany us to the spirit world where we shall train you to wield a sword forged from fire,” the boys declared. “We must be prepared in case the Host survives, and there is also our brother and sister to worry about.”
Tess nodded. “Your mighty will shall be carried out.”
Chapter Eighteen
Sheba and Nat peeked out the window overlooking the front of her building and saw that Ben and his three goons were gone. Nat swiftly unsheathed the sword and approached the front door.
“Get ready,” he yelled. “They’re about to make their move.”
Sheba grabbed two .45 caliber Mac 10 machine guns and took up position behind Nat.
“I’m ready”
Sheba and Nat were both focused on the front door when Stacy and Tracy came crashing through the front window on ropes like a SWAT team. They wore black combat outfits with handguns holstered at their sides and swords sheathed across their backs. Sheba spun to fire at the twins, but they drew their swords and were on her before she knew what hit her. Tracy sent her sword slicing at Sheba’s guns and cut them in half. Before Nat could turn to help Sheba, the front door blew off the hinges and Ben and his three goons stormed in firing handguns. Nat braced himself and held the sword across the front of his body, triggering a force field that deflected the bullets.
Sheba swung at Stacy and Stacy ducked and smashed her fist into Sheba’s stomach. Sheba doubled over in pain and Tracy crashed an elbow into her back and swiftly followed up with an open palm to the side of Sheba’s cheek. Stacy then grabbed Sheba by the back of her head and kneed her in the face, breaking her nose and sending blood everywhere.
Ben and his goons kept their guns trained on Nat and surrounded him. Nat looked over at Sheba and saw that she was balled up on the floor while Stacy and Tracy stomped and kicked her in the face and body. The room was filled with Sheba’s moans and groans of pain. Nat raised his sword and prepared for battle.
Ben told Nat, “Hand over the sword and we’ll let her live.”
“Never,” Nat swore through clenched teeth.
Ben shook his head in disappointment. “You’re surrounded. You won’t be able to block all of our bullets.”