Hi folks; the countdown is on. The story is nearing its end.

As usual: Have fun.

Ainin Grey

Chapter Nine

»We had to do it quickly. Let's hope it's enough.« Geoffrey looked at Tom who examined the repainted coffin. »The sisters helped. Right after my first call they started to hit the books. They said, with the coffin already opened the spell might not work properly anymore. So better making assurance double sure. Look at that.« He pulled the inlay away. »Silver mixed with your bloodily donation.«

Tom stared at the symbols that had been painted in- and outside of the coffin. »Well, I dunno what they mean…«

Geoffrey smiled. »That is Aramaic, the language of Jesus Christ.«

»And what does it say?«

»An anathema. And it reads…« The monk scratched his skull. »It's been a while. Wait…« He studied the symbols. »I can't do it verbatim, sorry mate. It's simply been too long. But figuratively it means something like whatever lies in that coffin will stay there forever. No escape from time. That I can translate.«

»Doya think it's enough?«

»It has to be.«

Tom nodded. »Let's hope we won't need it.«

»You really rather go for the exorcism?«

»Hal's my friend. Wouldn'tya try to save me, too?«

Just in that moment the steps of boots became audible on the marble floor of the basilica. Spencer and Simon approached. »Everything is set. From the instant he enters the area we will be in the know of his movements. I have calibrated the cameras. As he is with the devil now he isn't completely invisible anymore. Though we won't get a clear shot. Probably nothing more than just a spectre. But that's better than being blind.«

»We're ready in here«, Geoffrey rose to speak. »The coffin is prepared in case the exorcism fails.«

»'e wants to getta Ainin and she'll be 'ere in the church. We just havta force 'im to take our way«, Tom said.

»That won't be easy«, Simon chipped in. »He can't fly, but with devilish help he'll move faster than we do.«

»That for we have our surprises, don't we?« Spencer smirked.

»Holy Mother and Mary!« Alex shouted after she had rent-a-ghosted into Ainin's chamber.

The other woman stayed her with her hand. »Listen to me. I need your help. None of the others knows. Not even Nate. It's not that I don't trust him… and it might appear that I don't care to endanger you….«

»Stop the gibberish. Get to the point.« Alex looked expectantly at Ainin.

Ainin sighed. »I have prepared the exorcism. But I doubt it will be that easy.«

»So you're not that sure anymore, you can save Hal?« Alex frowned.

»Not alone with a few in Latin chanted words.«

»What else do you need?«

»I need God.« Alex yaw dropped. »Not God in persona because that is highly unlikely. No, the symbol. Something that stands for him. I need the belief. And fortunately I have plenty here.«

»The nuns?« Alex narrowed her eyes.

»Yes. Let's hope he doesn't read me closely again. Because that would be bad. Really bad.« She sighed. »So, Alex, listen carefully and jump into my face when all this is over.«

He motioned Rachel to stop the car in front of the gate. He turned to her. »I know that you don't want to be here. If there was any other way I'd rather not be here, too. But it is the way it is. That's why you will wait.«

»For how long?« she soundlessly asked.

»For as long as it takes.« He reached out his hand and pressed it against Rachel's forehead. »You will wait. Because I will need you after. You will wait.« She nodded automatically, sighed and folded her hands in her lap. »Good.« Hal loosened the seatbelt and got out of the car. He walked to the gate.

Slowly he paced back and forth. The cloister wasn't a public place and even accompanied by Lucifer he didn't dare to find out if he could just walk in or not. He had to ask for entry, but of course that would let them know. Well, what else could he do?

Just then he saw a nun walking towards him. Either the car had been seen and she came to ask for his business or he was expected, because the nuns were on the inside. He believed the latter.

The nun was short and curvaceous and had a friendly face. Without saying a word she opened the gate and stepped aside, pointing inwards with her hand. Hal hesitated for a moment, but then he entered Holy Falls. The nun didn't show any fear. He could just kill her, quick and easy; but he didn't. What a welcome gift would that be?

The nun closed the gate behind him and shortly glanced at Rachel, before she marched away. It was left up to Hal to follow her or leave it. He decided to have a look around first. Everything blinked TRAP heavily.

The long driveway didn't provide much shelter. Left were the stables. He heard cows moo, sheep bleating, goats baaing and the cackle of chicken. The cloister was self-sustaining. At the back of the building probably broad fields stretched along the countryside for corn and vegetables.

When he passed by the stables a big house with many tiny windows came into view. Like watchful eyes the windows stared at him. Attached to it was another gate leading to the inner complex, the cloister arch and the basilica. Hal assumed the 2 houses at the right side to be residential buildings. The kitchen, scriptorium, library, dormitory. He couldn't see any cars. Well in that case the building with the big doors that appeared to be another stable must be the garage. But everything seemed abandoned. Where had they gone? Where had they taken camp to await him?

Hal walked on and peered from one side to the other. Nothing happened. Right then the door of the house in front of him opened. A man stepped out, dressed in combat gear, holding a crossbow. He stopped and looked at Hal.

»Tom!« Hal only said and then smiled deviously. »Are you here to tell me, that I have to get past you to get to her?«

»Nothin's ever easy, mate.«

It felt strange to hear Tom's voice again. »I know you're smart, Tom. Just step aside.«

»I won' let ya break her apart.«

Hal nodded, face blank. »I can perfectly follow the links in your head that help you to that conclusion.«

»But ya tellin' me I'm wrong?« Tom laughed shortly. »Because you love her, eh? Ya know how that always ends, mate. One look of ya dooms them. Ya can't hold it. Blood. That's all ya know. Finally they all die. But not Nin. I won't let ya.«

»Ainin is old enough to make her own decisions, Tom. I understand that you want to protect her. But you can't. She already is mine. She wants to be with me.«

»Does she?« Tom snorted. »Then why isn't she 'ere to great ya?«

»Because you hold her captive!« that was Lucifer who yelled.

»I don' wanna fight ya, Hal.«

»Unfortunately it narrows down to that!« Lucifer growled and leapt forwards.

»No!« Hal shouted at his inner flat mate but he couldn't do anything about it. He was already up on the stairs.

Tom ducked away and hit his shoulder with the crossbow. »Sorry, mate.« He threw a lightening crump.

The light hurt and blinded him. Hal staggered and covered his eyes. When he looked up again Tom was gone. He heard a strange sound and glanced over. The gate to the cloister arch. It still swayed a little. Hal had to give Tom due. The old sport still was fast.

Hal ran over to the gate. Damn it. It was a trap. He should be coaxed inside. So the others waited for him. Well, maybe it was about time to use the hellish gifts of power that came along being Lucifer's host and combine them with the strength of a more than 500 year old vampire.

Hal smiled and jumped on the wall. He would meet them. But differently than they thought he would.

»Where the fuck is he?« Spencer stared at the small screen in his hand and zapped through the cameras he had installed. Nowhere was any sign of their adversary. »I don't bloody see him. Does anyone have a sighting?«

»Maybe our invitation wasn't thorough enough«, Simon mused.

»Wait…« That was Geoffrey. »Shit!« Breath came out in a hissing sound. »Look up! He uses the roofs. He just jumped from the kitchen onto the tool shed. The bastard is fast. Just watch out!«

»Yeah, I see 'im«, Tom reported. »He's moving to'ards me.«

»Can you somehow get him down?« Spencer.

»Well, so far for not sheddin' blood. Sorry, Hal. That's gonna 'hurt.«

»Stop talking, man, get him down from the fucking roof!« Spencer shouted.

Something painfully pierced his back. He cried out. Another sting. And yet another. Infuriated he turned his head. Tom. He stood beside a pillar and fired again. Well, nice he had switched to bullets. Oh, fuck silver ones. Better than a wooden stake but it still bloody hurt to be hit in the shoulder. Hal stumbled and fell. He dashed against the shingles and slid down on them.

»You got him«, Simon reported. »12 o'clock. He went down somewhere in the herb garden. I'll go over.« Simon levelled the gun and prowled closer. But when he reached the garden, the prey had vanished.

»Did you think it would be that simple?« A voice said behind him.

Simon spun around. All he could picture was a flash of red. The gun was ripped out of his hand. A fist slammed into his chest and threw him through the air. He crashed against a sculpture of an angel. He coughed and moaned. »When you kill me«, he hissed. »You won't score nicely. You aware of that?«

Hal smiled and looked down upon Simon. »Who says, that I'm going to kill you?« He squatted beside the injured and broke his leg with on swift motion. »That should stop you, don't you think?«

»Scumbag!« Simon spat and fought against unconsciousness. »You will burn in hell.«

Hal rose. »Hell is overrated, my friend.« He turned around and was hit in the chest by a bullet. It wasn't silver, he shortly discovered. It felt different. Way more painful. He yelped.

»Diluted werewolf blood, asshole. At least we need you in on piece«, Spencer coldly said. »Don't like the taste? Well, you shan't!« He fired again.

Hal darted backwards and evaded the bullet. He rolled along the floor and took shelter behind a pillar. His body pulsated and fought against the incursion. Lucifer had withdrawn to aid the healing process of his body. The pain faded. Well, momentarily. When he got hit by more of that…

»Ainin…«, he whispered. »Ainin, help me.«

Ainin sat on the stairs of the altar and jumped startled. She felt the heat rising inside. Her head almost exploded. He was injured and in pain. He needed her. Tears ran down her face. »Forgive me«, she murmured. »Forgive me.«

»This son of a bitch!« Spencer felt for Simon's pulse. »He got Simon«, he informed the others. »Simon's still alive. Why didn't he kill him?«

»He can't«, Tom's voice. »He's stuck between a rock anda 'ard place. That's our advantage. If he kills us, Ainin will kick his balls outta his throat. He knows. He doesna risk it.«

»Why would he care?« Spencer growled and crept forward. »He can just take her.«

»That's not what he wants, Spence«, Nate said. »Your own words. Absolute devotion. He only might get it, when we survive this. But still be careful.«

»Nate, what are you fucking doing here?« Spencer yelled at the ghost. »We agreed that you keep yourself out. He can bloody blast you apart with one glance.«

Nate smirked. »Shut your hole, Spence. I'm in this. Just like anyone else.« He threw a lightening crump. But the space beside the pillar was already empty.

None of the 2 saw Alex appear beside Simon and kneel down, holding a tiny bottle in her hand.

Hal smiled. Silently he skulked along the cloister arch and listened to their heartbeats. Best detector ever. There, to his right. The heart raced that heavily that it almost sounded like bell chimes in Hal's head.

He jumped up and crept along the roof. Nearer and nearer he came. But suddenly boulder crumbled and gave him away. Then man saw him and fired.

Hal flung himself backwards over the stone railing. Then he ran around the corner. The hunter had left his cover and picked something up that looked like a crossbow. Hal approached him.

Geoffrey turned around right in time to pull the trigger. The arrow sped forward and buzzed through the air, dragging the small metal rope along. But the vampiric bastard got out of the way in the nick of time. The arrow pierced the wall of the cloister arch. The rope vibrated and tightened. So far – so good.

Geoffrey grabbed the crossbow as firm as he could when his adversary came closer. He had an idea and swiftly put it into action. He pulled down the darkened specs and threw a lightening crump. He used the moment the other was blinded and smacked the crossbow into his face, forced him to his knees with it. He wrapped the rope around the other's neck and locked the clip on the bow. He pulled the rope tight. The vampiric devil twisted and turned and tried to free himself out of this noose.

»I need your help!« Geoffrey yelled. »I can't hold him for long!«

How right he was with it he recognized when the rope started vibrating heavier. The arrow, which was stuck in the wall, bounced.

»I'm here, man!« Nate appeared beside him.

»The fucking arrow!« Geoffrey shouted. Right in that moment the arrow came loose. »Hide in a hole!« was all Geoffrey could advise. The rope lashed through the air and the arrowed end looked for a new aim and got it. He saw it darting towards himself and tried to get down. Nate jumped in between but as a ghost he didn't have a texture to stop the missile. The arrow went through Nate's body and pierced Geoffrey's shoulder. The clash threw him down. Nate bent down and screamed. Geoffrey stared at him as he went up in flames and vanished. The next thing he saw was a fist that hit his face and broke his nose.

When Tom and Spencer arrived, the other was already gone. The rope lay in a huddle on the grass.

»It feels a bit like musical chairs«, Spencer gnarled. »Just that we are the chairs. And now only 2 are left to sit on.« He grabbed the hilt of the arrow.

»No!« Tom stayed him. »He might bleed too bad. Leave it.«

Geoffrey made a face. »Ditch me!« he hissed. »Get the bastard.«

»You're sure?« Spencer looked at him worried.

»Bloody yeah. Protect Nin. He mustn't get her.«

After a short glance they went on chasing Hal.

A moment later Alex hustled close. »Nin has a plan«, she said. »Trust her with it. I do.« She held the small bottle to Geoffrey's shoulder wound and caught a little of the blood.

Hal kept a better eye on them than they thought. He sat on a big stone cross and waited that the first took notice of him. He didn't have to wait for long. The young blonde became aware of him. While he walked closer Hal stayed where he was. Not until the moment Spencer started to fire he reacted. Hal rose and pounced on him. They slid along the grass covered ground. Spencer pointed the gun at him. »Bastard!«

Hal grabbed his left arm and dashed his hand forcefully on the stony ridge of a flowerbed. The wrist bones broke. Spencer gulped. Hal smiled. With the hilt of Spencer's crossbow he broke the fingers of his other hand, smashing it heavily down. With that Spencer was useless. He loudly groaned in pain.

»Shush«, Hal whispered. »You're waking the dead.«

»Or call the living!« Tom held the strange crossbow. But this time the arrow perfectly pierced Hal's shoulder. The rope tightened. Tom pulled and dragged Hal away from Spencer. »Sorry, mate!« he said. »But ya've played enough.« He walked on and lugged him along the ground towards the basilica.

None of them saw Alex approach the injured Spencer.

Hal tried to get back onto his feat. On the ridge of an herbal bed he managed. He pressed his feet against it. Tom still pulled him and with that he pulled him up. Hal grabbed the rope and pulled himself. Tom stumbled but didn't fall. He hooked the crossbow to his belt and used his body as counterbalance. He lifted his gun. »Don't make me do this!« He said. There was sadness in his voice. »Just give up!«

»Fuck you!« Lucifer gnarled.

»Well, then…« Tom fired.

Hal fastly recognised that the gun was loaded with another nasty surprise. A special edition he guessed as the first silvery bolt punctured his right thigh. The next hit his left shoulder. The pain was agonizing but Lucifer was already at work. Hal smiled and jerked the rope forcefully. Tom slide across the floor. Closer to him. He fired again and mercilessly spiked his body with more bolts.

Time to change the game and shift the balance.

Hal let himself fall down like a stone. He knew there was still too much emotion in Tom. After all they've been through. He would come and check, if he'd accidently killed him.

So he did. Tom came closer. He reloaded and levelled the gun. Worried but primed. When he had almost reached him, Hal leaped up and took hold of the rope. Lucifer shot strength into his muscles and Tom took a flying lesson. When the rope tightened, his flight was abruptly stopped. He crashed to the ground and buckled in pain. The crossbow had clashed against his side and probably broken a rib. Still Tom lifted the gun.

Hal kicked it out of his hand. Slowly he pulled 2 bolts out of his body and knelt down beside Tom. »You should have taken the exit. Honestly. Now I am not going to spare you anymore.« With that he rammed the bolts forcefully first into Tom's right wrist and then into his left, nailing him to the ground he lay upon.

»She will kick ya'r ass!« Tom only said with tears stained eyes. »Heaven is with her!«

Hal smiled. »I am counting on it!« Then he rose and pulled the arrow plus the rest of the bolts out of his body and threw it away. Slowly he started to march towards the St. Ambrosius Chapel at the end of the cloister arch.

He didn't catch a crying Alex kneeling down beside Tom and whispering into his ear.