Stating the Obvious: The following fanfic is a sequel to "Final Prophecy" (because, apparently, I can't quit these two).
Disclaimer: I have no right over the Prophecy franchise, the movies, the characters and whatnot. Nor am I versed in the mythology of the movies as a whole.
Author's Note: First, I want to say how much it all of your kind words mean to me, and that you're enjoying the fanfic thus far. I appreciate reviews, though I seldom ask for them, because it means you liked it enough to want to say something and share with me your thought and opinions. These characters were all voices in my head and trying to tame it into words, sometimes I wanted to give up, but I'm glad I didn't. And to XinnLajgin, I completely agree and, again, without (hopefully) offending anyone overly religious, there difference between God and Lucifer, in my writing, is that God's angels love him because they must. They have no free will. They carry out the commands without question, with blind faith, and that's how He designs it. Lucifer is different to me; he has earned the loyalty and respect of the fallen because he, himself, is one of them; he's only above them in power and because he had been an arch (and I remember laughing in the 2nd movie when Gabriel got kicked out of hell-two archs clearly cannot co-exist there!) and I always found it odd (and maybe that's just me) that when Belial stepped out of line in the 4th movie, he just told him to come back home...he didn't cast him out or banish him. Heck, he wasn't even the one who pulled the trigger, Allison did, and it always did make me curious what kind of relationship he had with his fallen that made that him so different. It's those little details I enjoy from the movies, and that I try to expand on, without abusing it, I hope. Though, I will say, he's not as kind to his brethren anymore, as Allison has kind of changed him (I actually read over my past fanfics on these two the other day and, wow, Lucifer went from curious, to falling into temptation completely, which is hilarious, all things considered!)
Now, it should go without saying that this chapter, like many of the ones before, and the ones coming soon, is not for the faint of heart, and it will probably get a bit more haunting later. Depends on perspective, really. It doesn't help that my music selection has gone from Maria Mena, to the Jekyll and Hyde Soundtrack (the theater version) and soon, Lana Del Rey (whose songs, by the way, helped me write the rest of the chapters - her songs are perfectly dark and haunting, just what I needed to get in the mindset and courage needed to write this out). But, in the end, I think it's fitting, mood-wise, and being as it is the Apocalypse, well, it's not sunshine and puppies...though humor, that I can't do without, even (and especially) when it's inappropriate. Enjoy!
Chapter 6. Finding Lost Sheep
Good and evil -
And their merits -
Men have argued through history -
As well they should!
My philosophy
Any child can see -
"Good is evil -
And therefore
All evil is good"
"Good 'N' Evil" Jekyll and Hyde Soundtrack
Allison hasn't been able to save very many people - it's the Apocalypse outside, demons and fallen roaming free to do whatever they want without consequence, it's a miracle she's still alive. Brian and Hannah found the church by chance. After they managed to paint the words on the church doors, with only one creature causing trouble - which they avoided by having Hannah run into the church to distract it and Allison to hide, then on Hannah's mark, Allison would come out from behind the door and inside, in time to have it burn to ashes again.
It had been a risk, but it had worked, as they now have three more people, whom Allison has gotten to know as well as anyone gets to know each other during times like these full of fear, distrust and grief.
Pete, the drug dealer, who has never been more alert and sober in his life, it seems, in his early thirties and a man of few words since he saw his wife and daughter disappear in front of his eyes. Allison had told him what happened, and although the man has very little faith, his tears had been honest, as he himself hopes that what Allison says is true...that his family is, in their own way, safe. He had seen the words on the door and hoped that he, too, could be found.
Laura and Kyle, brother and sister, had almost cut Allison when they first came in, thinking she was going to hurt them or, maybe, just because they're naturally violent. They had seen the words and thought there were people inside, people that could help. Allison doesn't know their story yet - she's not sure she wants to.
Brian and Hannah, with her from the start, a couple, do not believe in God, and Brian's father had been a corrupt lawyer who had his own arsenal of weapons. His father was the very reason they were alive. He had opened fire on any creature that got close and distracted them so that they could run away. They had a car, at first, but crashed it during one of the quakes and they had had weapons, but ran out of ammo while on the run. They saw the church and hoped...hoped that if there was a God, even if they didn't believe in one, that mercy would be something they could earn.
Allison saw, not a group of sinners, but a group of broken people, given the gift of free will, on a path of life that is never as easy as it seems. It's like raising a bull in the middle of a bullpen, with a matador at its side - how can you not expect man to turn into a sinner, when all around it is sin? Life itself is sin. That is why forgiveness exists, because it is something needed by all, and all have to earn it.
She's tried talking to them, but only Hannah and Brian are grateful to listen to her little stories. She tells them as much about her as she can, without betraying too much. So far, they know she's a nephalim - with as much as they've all seen thus far, it's not as insane saying it out loud. They know about the war between angels, they know about the book she protected, the anti-Christ's attempt at ruling the world that she somewhat stopped and how souls had been trapped, unable to ascend. She stopped that, too.
She doesn't tell them that in doing so she fell in love with the devil, she lost her brother, her second family, she let too many people die and now she's with child.
His child.
No, that she keeps to herself. It's not shame that keeps her from it, or regret, but fear. After being thought crazy once or twice in her life, she knows how people react to the truth, and right now, they don't need to know that aspect of the truth...it's personal, too personal, and if she's honest, it hurts, like an open wound, unable to heal because it's still bleeding...they are still tools of a grander scheme, unable to live the life they want.
She's managed to find food in the church. There isn't much to last very long, but enough for a week or so. Longer if they control themselves, if more people don't come.
When Allison can't find a can opener, the girl, Laura, helps by using her knife. It's a clumsy cut and it makes the lid harder to handle but they maneuver the food out and are able to at least curve the hunger.
It's late night - past midnight, she thinks - and it's too quiet.
They're all sleeping and Allison had volunteered to take first shift.
She doesn't need to sleep, not really, just as she doesn't need to eat, though she did anyway, for the baby. She figures, if she is pregnant - no ifs, she knows she is, because he wouldn't lie about that - she needs to eat something, to keep it growing...though, how? How did it happen? She's been with him through two lifetimes. She never...he told her it was impossible. He could not have children, contrary to popular belief, though there were remedies to make him fertile - rituals, he called them - he never tried them because, well, he was not interested in being a parent. One of him is enough, he had said.
But what now? What changed?
She closes her eyes, her thoughts giving her the answers she needed.
He died.
Didn't he say he didn't know what happened to him? Or why he came back?
It wasn't for her. It was for this. For his unborn child.
She's caressing her stomach with her hands. If she is pregnant, it's only been a mere couple of days since they started having sex and, if she's honest with herself, she had been due to ovulate - she keeps a calendar. So, maybe, she's not pregnant yet, not in the literal sense - scientifically, it can take days - but when the son of God tells you you're pregnant, you just tell science to fuck off, because he should know.
There hasn't been an explosion in some time and the silence keeps her alert - she can hear them breathing and at least two of them snore - but, at least, now, she can tell when something is going on.
Like the sound of a door creaking.
There's a shift in the darkness, a bright light coming through the small opening, and she stands from one of the pews, walking softly, trying to make as little noise as possible.
If it's another person, she doesn't want to startle anyone, or be attacked, like she almost was by Laura. But if it's a demon, it'll only turn to ash, so she's not as worried about that. Ironic, all things considered, that she be more afraid of the prospect of a mortal than a demon.
The door hasn't been completely open and it worries her. Her back is to the door that remains untouched, it's the other that's been partly open, revealing the shining light, too bright to be natural.
She hears murmurs, but can't decipher all the words.
"...not her scent."
Her breathing has gotten labored, her heart is making it hard to focus on their words, but those words she just picked up, they're not normal.
They can't come in, she tells herself. You're safe. You're all safe.
"Allison." She hears that. Her name. She hears her name in that tone and it's all she needs to hear. She moves towards the small opening from the door and sees his eyes. She sees him, she knows him somehow, even in this form, and she's terrified but, at the same time, she's pissed.
"Belial."
"Allison," Belial smiles, happy to be recognized, "My, my, how you've grown. You actually know me. I'm very impressed." Belial looks human, the kind of flesh bag you'd expect from a pimp or a really sketchy-looking landlord. She knows it's probably someone he killed, and now that the door is open, she can see the cars, the headlights shining their light on the church. Allison can also see a following of creatures and some fallen. No John.
"What do you want?"
"Why, you, of course." He smiles, almost cheerful. "I have to say, I am having a lot of fun. When Lilith said I could do whatever I wanted to this wonderful state, anything I wanted, so I could find you, well, you can imagine my delight. I did waste a few hours on some unproductive acts...I fucked a few bags of flesh. Fucked two of them to death while their friends watched." Belial laughs and Allison tries not to throw up. "I mean, it's been nice. It's been good. How about you? You're in a church. An impenetrable church," he observes, genuinely curious. "And look, you made some friends."
Allison looks behind her to notice Brian, Hannah and Pete are awake. Laura and Kyle are, too, but they're staying by the pews, a few feet away, whereas the others are standing right behind Allison in a defensive stance.
"You can't come in, and you can't touch us."
Belial tests the air in front of him, as his finger nears the doorway, he feels his skin sizzle.
"Hmm, I didn't know you had that kind of fire in you, nephalim," Belial spits the words out in a soft smile. "You," his eyes are set on Brian. "You act so noble, and yet, how many monkeys did you help your daddy get rid of? And you, you and your pretty face, you got a lot of monkeys killed, ruined a lot of lives, just to get your way, princess. And I like you best. Hmm, so much blood and money. I think I'll keep you," he licks his lips as he looks at Pete, who is not even in the least bit amused. "Oh, and I think I should tell you, I know where your wife is. Well, I know where she was. On my cock!"
Allison turns around immediately, ready to stop Pete from jumping on him, but it doesn't happen. Pete stares at Belial and laughs. He shakes his head, "I don't know you, fool, but you don't know my wife. My wife was my wife. She wouldn't get with a freak like you."
Allison smiles, facing Belial, "Nice try. Go back to your ring leader, Belial. Tell her I'm not for sale, I never have been, and I will find a way to end this, and when I do, she better have a damn good escape plan, because her head is the first one I'm coming after."
"Big words coming from a woman in hiding," Belial narrows his eyes. She can tell he wants to rip the skin off her body, piece by piece.
"Well, Allison has always been a woman of many big words." Before Allison can register who that voice belongs to, fire begins to consume each and every creature, until it's just the fallen, and once Belial turns around to assess the situation, arms shoot through each of their chest, pulsating hearts outside their bodies, held by hands that waste no time and simply squeeze.
Allison knows who has Belial's heart.
It's John...it's Lucifer.
He found her.
Lucifer smiles, "Goodbye, Belial."
When their bodies fall, Allison doesn't think, doesn't wait, she just runs. She runs towards the man holding a heart in his hand and even though Hannah is still screaming, she holds on to him like he's her lifeline, and in a way, he always has been.
She feels his lips pressed on his head and it sends a thrill down her spine.
"Hello, little sheep," he murmurs in her ear, and she smiles.
"I hoped...I hoped you'd find me." She looks up at him and notices, to her left, a fallen getting closer to the church, telling Hannah to calm down and looking at Lucifer like they're all crazy for being there. When she looks to her right, she sees another fallen getting close...too close.
"Stop!" She yells and takes a few steps back under she's under the doorway. "You can't come here." She tries to collect herself and turns to Hannah and the others. Something else hits her, a putrid smell. She covers her nose with her hand, "What is that smell?"
"It's best if you don't ask," Lucifer sighs.
"Who the hell are they?" Pete asks behind her.
"They're fine. I know...him," she's not going to lie. She has no idea who the others area, though one of them looks vaguely familiar - wasn't he one of the fallen Lucifer had assigned to watch her? She never did get to ask him. "He came for me. He's..." She knows calling Lucifer not evil will probably be the same as emasculating him. She makes a face when she notices his smile and quirked brow. Oh, he's loving the fact she can't say what he is and what he isn't.
"He's my lover." That is as honest as it's going to get. "And he just saved our lives, so did they, however, I can't just trust you with their lives and you can't come in while I'm here."
"Why not?" Lucifer and Pete ask at the same time, making Pete look at Lucifer suspiciously while Lucifer remains amused.
"Because they're fallen angels." There. She said it. "But just like there are good angels and bad angels, just like there are good people and bad people, there are..."
"Don't, please, don't," the overgrown ape-like fallen begs, "As his woman, I won't kill you, but if you call me good, I'll have to kill myself."
"Good one, Beelzebub," the one with the beautiful mane of hair smiles, and winks, making her feel a little uncomfortable given the circumstances.
"Azazel." Lucifer warns, then sighs, "We are not here to kill you, and that should be enough." Allison knows he's speaking to the others. "We are here for her, because Allison usually has the misfortune of being the one with the power to stop evil things and, well, we kind of want to stop a very dangerous evil thing."
"If you're fallen," Pete crosses his arms, "like demons and shit, don't you want to do evil things?"
"He's right," Azazel confesses, "I want to do lots of evil things. In bed. With that one." He points at Hannah this time, making Brian have her stand behind him.
"I need not explain myself to you, mortal," and this is when John becomes Lucifer, when he starts growing a few inches taller and Allison swears, like this, he's still very much the Prince of Darkness. "For now, my interests and yours are the same, to save your pitiful world so that she may live in it, and while she lives, I will protect that which she holds dear. That is why she will be coming with me. That is why I won't kill you. Any harm comes to her, your lives are forfeit."
Allison swallows, tears in her eyes, not because of what he said, no, but because of what it means, and why she's probably with child...
God really is a sick bastard, she thinks, shuddering.
"I can't leave." She murmurs, and surprisingly, it is heard by everyone.
"This is not the time to be a martyr. Do you need a reminder of how that usually ends?" He is getting impatient, she knows, and the others are starting to be respectful enough to disperse, not wanting to witness a lover's spat when it comes to their "General", and they're disposing of the bodies, which Allison will thank them for, eventually.
She really doesn't want to say the next part out loud. "Do you remember who you saw? When you came back?" Lucifer nods, curious as to where she's going with this. "I saw him, too, here, after I saw Simon. Simon brought me here. He knew what was going to happen. He probably knew they were coming for me. Then he...the other one...he told me to stay in the church. He told me I'd be safe as long as I stayed here, they can't find me. It's because I'm a nephalim. It has to be."
The expression on his face tells her he's not at all pleased with the messenger responsible for placing her here, or the message, for that matter. "Allison, you're not safe. Not with them. If you were alone, I'd have less of a problem with the idea of you hiding while I ensure your safety, but with them inside, any demon with the proper skill could possess their minds, their bodies, and influence them to kill you. You'd be dead before you could even defend yourself. You're safer with me."
She closes her eyes, trying not to grind her teeth, "Find another nephalim."
"Do you really believe an army of nephalims will stop what's coming? This is much greater than that," Lucifer looks at her as if she'd grown another head and when he himself comes close enough to let his fingers touch the doorway, to prove to her she's insane, he feels something, a barrier of some kind that makes him stop, his eyes confused.
Allison lifts her chin, slightly, now confident and relieved that he has no choice but to believe her and do as she says, for once. "You told me once, you looked for me, you found other nephalims on the way. I'm not the only one. If you're going to save the world, I want to save it with you, and we can do that if we find nephalims and have them in different churches, keeping people safe. My presence here is keeping these people safe."
"You are a self-sacrificing fool," he mutters exasperated.
"I can't just sit here and hide, alone, while everyone else worth saving dies!"
"They would not still be here if they were worth saving!" He yells, "They would be up there, with Him, if He considered them worth saving, but they're not! They're rapists, killers, liars and thieves," he smiles, bitterly. "They're my sort and, some time ago, I would've welcomed them with open arms, but it's not up to me, not anymore." And he swallows, knowing fully who's to blame for that. "Allison, you are speaking of saving them from an inevitable fate, you speak of them as if they are good. They are not good. They're rotten and useless sheep, that is what you're sacrificing yourself for."
She shakes her head, "No, I'm trying to save people like me. I've killed. I've lied. I am far from perfect but I sought forgiveness, I've tried to be good, and the only weakness I have, the only weakness I've ever had, is you, but I'm choosing sides. If you make me, I choose this side. I choose to fight, to protect our unborn child."
The silence lasts only a few seconds, but it is heavy, heavy on all of them, and even the other fallen have stopped what they are doing long enough to stare.
"How?" Lucifer's face is serious, devoid of all emotion.
"The son of God told me," she laughs, finally saying his identity out loud, no longer hiding the madness of it all, tears in her eyes, "I'm pregnant. And I'm pretty sure that's why they brought you back...Lilith wants this baby. I can feel it. I don't know why or how, but they must've known I would be useful to them somehow. Why else did they keep me safe? They kept me alive for you. She could've killed me to get back at me, to get back at you, and I always thought she wanted to, badly. That's why I always wondered why she never did." At this point, she's rambling, because she just told her boyfriend - is that what he is? - she's pregnant. How many lifetimes? How many crazy scenarios before them, how many obstacles, and not once did they think a baby would be part of the mix, partly because he couldn't have children and she was afraid insanity is something the baby would inherit. She didn't want to take the risk. Now, they have no choice.
"Allison," Lucifer finally speaks, and his voice is calm, his face is calm, it's too calm. "I'll find a nephalim, I'll bring it back, I'll tell others to seek out nephalims and keep them alive, long enough for this war to be over, for there to be survivors, and let them learn to survive on their own if they're worthy. But mark my words, when I return, you will come with me, I will make the decisions to ensure your safety, I will kill anyone that tries to touch you, and you will have nothing to say on the matter. Is that understood?"
"I make no promises," her smile is small, but it's there, and he echoes it.
Allison takes a step forward, standing inches from the doorway, for a kiss, just one last kiss, and it would've lasted longer had she a say in the matter but she had been pushed back, by Lucifer - caught by Pete - and then they were gone, disappeared, and the only evidence she had to say that he had ever been there exists only on her lips.
She gathers herself, looking behind her, and she tries to smile as she asks, "Okay, who gets the first question?"
Author's Afterword: This is normally how I like my writing, to write without having any idea as to where I'm going, and that's exactly how I wrote this chapter. Truth be told, I had a plan when I started writing this chapter, but it went off on its own, which I think is a good thing. Their (the characters) surprise, is my surprise, and that, to me, is really fun. One thing I admire from Allison, she doesn't really love angels - not anymore, I think - or the good side, but she is still good for the sake of being good, because she wouldn't punish people who aren't to blame for the way management is run, so to speak...at least, that's how I see it, and it makes her so foolish in Lucifer's eyes, but it makes her love her more, because when he fell, he lost all hope, every single shred, yet she...she still has it, even after everything. It's kind of a wonder. I have so many theories and they tend to change, from time to time, mainly because of the many perspectives around things, but still, thought-provoking, I enjoy it!
