CHAPTER 13: ONE
"One
Singular sensation
Every little step she takes.
One thrilling combination
Every move that she makes.
One smile and suddenly nobody else will do;
You know you'll never be lonely with you know who.
One moment in her presence
And you can forget the rest.
For the girl is second best
To none,
Son.
Ooooh! Sigh! Give her your attention.
Do...I...really have to mention?
She's the...
One!"
- Lyrics from "A Chorus Line" Broadway musical, 1975
The meal was concluding when Lucine finally spoke about her revelations in the closet.
"Mother Hel convinced me that my life here is worth living without fear or self-pity," she said, well into her second cappuccino. "And I realized that I really did not want to go back to my temple in Bethmoora. In fact, I became grateful that I would not have to see the place again."
"Why?" asked Abe.
She looked at him. "Because what I was doing all those years down there was simply hiding."
"I thought you were waiting for us," said Liz.
"I was," Lucine replied, "but I was also hiding from the denizens of Hell. I had been marked for death a long time ago, Anung un Rama. Bethmoora was a safe place and I hardly ever left it."
"Let – me – guess. You were marked because you were protecting me."
Lucine laughed. "It was more than that. When we first met, I held you in my arms for a short time. When I did, I gave you a little of Heaven's grace. That ruined Hell's plans for you." She took a sip of coffee. "It gave you a conscience, among other things, and they hated me for it. Shortly after I beheld you for the first time, I learned that I was being hunted."
Lucine closed her eyes and a flood of memories came back to her, which she paraphrased for her guests. She frequently went into trances or fell into memories so vivid that she felt as if she was reliving them. Her companions sat patiently by, used as they all were to their little winged friend's odd ways, and listened.
XXXXXX
"They're coming back, old friend!" shrieked the goblin who had been responsible for the creation of the Golden Army. "Can you hear 'em? Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! They're coming this way! To slay us both, they will! Me for casting 'em off, and you for tryin' to rid the Earth of 'em!"
Lucine – then commonly known as the ha-mashchit or Destroyer to those who knew of her existence, although Heaven had given her no name – stood and hissed, snapping out her great eyed wings and sending a blast of air that blew a whirlwind of sand across the expanse of her temple. She was confident in her power to thwart an attack, but feared that it would drain her last reserves of strength. It had taken a great deal of it to send the Golden Army into the volcano Eyjafjallajokull. As things appeared now, she might as well have saved herself the trouble.
"Didn't ye toss 'em into that big fire mountain?" the goblin cried, moving quickly so that he was hidden behind her tattered gown.
"I did," Lucine replied. "But you see that they have remade themselves once again. It was you that gave them that ability, and now they have come back to tear you apart."
"No! Dear friend, save me!"
"Very well. Now still yourself!"
Both froze, silent, as the boom of thousands of tramping feet wheezed and ground and shrieked as gear ground against gear in their mechanical fury past Lucine's temple on their way back to their resting place. Lucine dreamily chanted to herself in a mixture of ancient Hebrew and Enochian, warding the place against intrusion by the mechanical Golmim. Dust rained down from the ceiling and several large chunks of rock fell to the floor, blowing out little craters in what sand remained there. Several of the smaller soul-jars fell to the floor and broke open.
"Ah!" Lucine whispered, moving toward them with a degree of affection unusual in a death angel. "Cressoidus the shoemaker, hush now. Murtree, the butcher's daughter, quiet. Danger is nearby and you must be silent! Here, I have another home for you." With the pointing of her crooked finger to guide their way, both souls flew across the vast room and slid into two vacant soul-jars, where they glowed with renewed happiness in their new homes.
"Nuada must be going crazy with joy to see them moving," the goblin whispered. "Scurvy little devil, him. They only move without the Crown to return to their home. I created them that way, damn my soul!"
Lucine had no eyes in her face and therefore could not roll them in sarcasm. "It is all your doing," she hissed. "I don't know why I let you visit me. I should send your soul to Sheol."
"No, no, no!" the goblin whispered frantically, clomping toward her as close as he dared in his little cart, the goat-bell clanging wildly. "You know that I have regretted it – all of it – since the day they were finished and started sucking the life out of the people of Bethmoora! It's like they took on a life of their own. Please believe me, old friend!"
Lucine shook her head, waving away some sand on the symbols around her feet. It revealed a humped golden figure that radiated doom.
"If it had not been you, it would have just been another," the ha-mashchit replied. "It is written here in the eternal charts." Suddenly, her head snapped up and she rounded to face the temple entrance. "It is Nuada," she said. "Hide yourself."
Within seconds the goblin clopped his way over to the largest soul-jar he could find and sheltered himself, as getting caught in a crossfire between an elven prince and a death angel would be hazardous to his health.
Lucine strengthened her resolve.
Prince Nuada, his white face handsome but bearing the arrogant sneer that quite ruined his beauty, strode in as the ruler of all he fancied himself to be. He swept low in a sarcastic bow. "Old Angel dear, how are you? Did you happen to hear my army making its way back to my kingdom, or have you grown too deaf to notice?"
Lucine hissed at this white-haired upstart. "Do not speak to me. Damned you are for ruining the life of your sister and for many other crimes besides. It is not your army and if it will become so, it will only be so for mere moments. You take your life into your hands by entering this room, Nuada. Beware!"
Nuada laughed loudly, striding forward. With a twitch of her shrouded head, Lucine sent him flying across the room. He smashed against a large soul-jar with a bang and a clatter. The soul inside fluttered in fear.
"Soothe yourself, Agnon the street-sweeper," Lucine hissed. "All is well."
It took Nuada a few moments to right himself and to sweep the sand from his elaborate garments. "Still playing games, I see. Well, I can play a few myself. I have been traveling the worlds over, you see, and I came upon a fine group of demons. Ugly things they were but not as ugly as you, Angel darling."
She hissed, her wing-eyes glittering.
"They said they were looking for a demon named Anung un Rama and for his angel guardian known as the ha-mashchit. At first, I played dumb to see what advantage it might bring to me to reveal what I knew."
Lucine snapped her black wings, their eyes locked on Nuada.
"I knew nothing about this Anung un Rama, of course, but about you I know plenty. What would it be worth, I wonder, for me to tell them that the angel they seek is hiding in my very land and has been for ages upon ages? Could the powers of Hell reanimate the Golden Army even without the Crown?" Nuada strode forward. This time, Lucine did not knock him back, her dusty old heart full of anxiety.
"And so, old girl, here are my terms to you."
"Terms be damned, as is your tattered soul," she hissed in return.
"Don't be so hasty, dearest Angel darling, but hear me out." He laughed again, his teeth glittering in the light of the soul-jars. "Where is the other piece of my crown?" He extended his spear to its fullest, nearly touching Lucine's breastplate.
"It is not your Crown, you craven little wretch. And your spear threatens me not. Even if I knew, I would never tell you."
"Well then, if you will not help me, then I will not help you." Nuada growled. "Touch the Golden Army one more time – remove them, apparate them, disturb them in any way, and I will contact the King of Hell and give you up. They have some delightful plans for you. As you know, Hell specializes in torture and they delight in getting their hands on residents of Heaven. I happen to know what a rickety old pile of rag and bone you have become; they should be able to tear you to pieces in no time. With any luck, I will be there to join them in poking out those nasty eyes of yours...one...by...one..."
Still grinning, Nuada poked the angel's breastplate with the tip of his spear.
With a roar, Lucine flung out her arms and sent the Prince of Bethmoora flying out of the entrance of the temple. She listened as he fell with a crash onto the debris on the ground and then sent the gate to her domain slamming shut, snapping his mystical spear in half.
"See my face once more, you cowardly little husk," she hissed. "and you will surely die."
XXXXXX
Tom, Liz, Abe, and Red all stared at Lucine, transfixed. Three of them had actually been to her domain and Tom had viewed Johann's tape many times. All had pictured the scene she had described down to its smallest detail.
"Of course, you know the rest," Lucine continued. "As it happened, Nuada wasn't the one to give me up. You did, Anung un Rama, and you did not mean to do it. The devils were swift to do their worst to me shortly after you shut down the Golden Army."
"That jumping little creep was worse that I thought," Hellboy murmured.
"Nuada nearly killed you," Liz said to Red, putting her hand on his arm in comfort.
"Liz, remember it was you who saved Anung un Rama that day, not me," Lucine said quietly.
Liz looked at her odd little friend. "Yes, I remember. You told me that I would suffer more than anyone, and yet you spared me that fate when you stopped the terrorist attack. At the time, though, I couldn't understand why you didn't withdraw Nuada's blade yourself."
Lucine shrugged. "Angels are rarely permitted to interfere in the life decisions of their charges," she said. "What we do is guard and guide. At that crossroad, it was your turn."
"Where did he go, Lucine? Nuada, I mean," Abe asked. His heart still ached for his lost Nuala as he was keenly aware of the damage her brother had done to her. For that reason, Abe kept a small hot coal of hatred burning in his heart for Nuada. How could he help it?
Lucine reached out and took Abe's hand. "After his greed and lust for power resulted in his sister's death, I snatched his soul and took it to judgment. Hers too, of course. She was taken to the heavenly realm enjoyed by her parents. His, I cast into the pit." Lucine gave a smile that even chilled Tom.
"Good riddance," Red said, grabbing the last piece of avocado sushi. "I'm just sorry I couldn't have changed it all."
Lucine shrugged. "Her days were numbered, as she and her brother were destined to be born and to die on the same day. She knew she had to stop him at that moment. There was nothing you could have done." Lucine squeezed Abe's hand. "I spoke with her while I was in Heaven, you know; after the Freedom Tower attack. She watches you all the time with love and awaits the day – a long time from now – when you will be reunited. Believe me, my friend, and know that what I speak is true."
Abe dropped his head. Liz gave his shoulder a squeeze.
Lucine continued. "It would make her unhappy, however, if you were to remain alone for the rest of your life."
Abe shrugged. "I don't think there's anyone out there for me," he replied.
"Don't be so sure. Sometimes, those who come into our lives do so to save us, although neither knows it. For example, I have always been your salvation, Anung Un Rama. When you and Liz returned to speak with me a second time, you and Mother Hel found me in my greatest need and became my salvation." Lucine smiled. "And now," she reached for Tom's hand, "Liz is your salvation and Tom is mine. See how nicely it all works?"
Red laughed. "Man. We'd better pay the bill and get out of here before Manny begins boo-hooing over there." He stood up and stretched. "We all know how sappy he gets when it comes to you, Lucine."
"Will you stop it?" Liz chided, slapping his arm.
"Spoken like a truly tender soul," Abe said with a chuckle. "Red, all the sensitivity training the Bureau had to offer you did nothing to soften your rough edges."
"Yeah, well, thank God for that," Hellboy laughed, turning to Tom and Lucine. "Thanks for the great meal, and you know I'm just kidding. If I couldn't torment Manning here, I'd probably drop dead."
"And more's the better for the B.P.R.D.," Tom returned. "And you're welcome."
Lucine laughed. "I ought to knock your heads together, but I love you both. Here's a thought I'd like to leave with you before we go. I want to let everyone know that I have rejoined your world again, but don't know how to do it."
Abe looked at Liz and Liz looked at him.
"YouTube," they both said.
Tom groaned and reached for the bill.
XXXXXXX
"Um – hello."
The camera was filming and Lucine sat nervously at her kitchen table, hands folded before her, their knuckles white. A chipped white china cup with "FBI" emblazoned on it stood nearby, full of hazelnut cream coffee.
"My name is Lucine Mal'akha Manning. I was the one at the World Trade Center when it was attacked."
Silence.
(Tom's voice-over: "Go ahead; it's okay…")
"I – just wanted to say hello to you all. I have not been myself since the attack and I did not act very well towards some of you in the city. I want to apologize to the people at the fund-raising – what is it called?"
(Tom's voice-over: "Gala, sweetheart.")
"Um – gala. I am sorry. You were so kind to have invited me. Years ago, and you can take it from me, no one in their right senses would have invited me anywhere. I took away the souls of dead persons and if someone saw me coming, well, all they could think of was to get as far away from me as they could. But I do not do that any more so you don't have to worry. When someone comes for you after you die, it will not be me."
(Tom laughs off screen; he can't help it)
"Anyway, I did not talk to anyone at the beautiful party. I didn't even look up and say hello to any of you. I – apologize."
(She coughs into her fist)
"You don't know anything about me because it is some sort of security issue but I want to tell you how I got here. All right."
(Lucine blinks and takes a deep breath)
"I was waiting for someone for a long time. I mean a very, very long time; longer than many humans and their great-great-great-grandchildren are alive. I waited in a place where I saw hardly anyone and finally the person came. Demons followed him, however, and they wanted to kill me because I protected the person who finally came."
(Lucine puts her hands over her face for a few seconds)
"They set me on fire and tore me to pieces. I was still alive, and a dear friend came and put me back together. I look very different than I used to, and from what my friends told me that is a good thing as I was very old and weak. Now I am neither. The being you know as Hellboy brought me here to New York and I joined the B.P.R.D. as a special agent. I had friends for the first time and – "
(the screen goes blank, and then comes back on after a few seconds. Tom sticks his head into the picture and waves)
"Mr. Lucine here. Kicked out the plug. Sorry."
(Lucine laughs, her tension finally broken)
"I began doing tasks for the B.P.R.D. which were very successful. I also sent a great many demons back to Hell in the process, which I always enjoy. There are a lot of them lurking around New York. And New Jersey too. Anyway, my wings grew back and I flew all over the place, which was a problem. My best friend Tom then told me about Nine-Eleven, which turned out to be a very good thing."
(Lucine takes a drink of coffee)
"I love coffee. This kind is really wonderful. Anyway, I found out what was going to happen a few months ago at the World Trade Center through visions in my head, and my friends and I did what we could to stop it. My friends do not want me to mention them, but I want you people to know that I could not have shut down that attack without them. I took the souls of the evildoers for judgment – and then I came back. So, here I am again."
(Lucine takes another drink of coffee)
"I am also sorry to the Chanel people. I was supposed to wear their beautiful dress like one of those models or Hollywood stars but instead I think I ruined it. Some of the sparkling bits fell off. I did not mean to do it."
(Lucine looks down at herself. She is wearing a short-sleeved black sweater over a long-sleeved jewel toned jersey with cobalt blue and orchid-colored flowers on it. There are sequins all around the silhouette of the jersey)
"I got this at Macy's. I like Macy's. There is a woman upstairs there who makes cuts and stitches so I can wear the clothes. Tom helps me with the snaps in back. This looks nice. It has fewer sparkly bits to fall off."
(Tom's voice-over: "Tell them about One World Trade Center!")
"Oh! All right! I want to tell you about my new job. I sit on top of the Freedom Tower and look all around for trouble. If someone is planning to hurt people, I will know about it. And then I use the hand machine – "
(Tom's voice-over: "Cellphone, sweetheart.")
"Um, cellphone, to call law enforcement. So, you will be protected, you see."
(Lucine looks off screen)
"Anyway, my Tom is going to upload this to YouTube for me, even though he says he hates it – "
(an off screen snort of laughter from Tom)
"– and I hope it will be all right. I love New York and I thank you for my new home and when you see me fly over, you can wave at me if you want and I will see you. Anyway, goodbye."
(screen goes blank)
(picture comes back on. Lucine is standing behind her kitchen table)
(Tom's voice-over: "Come on, do it!")
"No. It is silly. No one wants to see it."
(Tom's voice-over: "Lucine, everyone wants to see it. Do it! I won't turn this thing off until you do!")
(Lucine rolls her eyes and puts her hands on her hips, and then snaps out her wings. All of her wing-eyes blink at the audience. Tom's applause is heard off camera)
(screen goes blank)
XXXXX
It was a surprise to everyone that what Tom posted as the "Angel Video" received so many hits within the first few minutes that the site crashed. Within twenty-four hours, the number of hits had broken all previous YouTube records.
There were thousands of comments, many of which were small letters of thanks and personal recollections of that terrible day. The few crackpot and troll posts that appeared were quickly deleted as Tom feared that Lucine would see them and take steps to consign their authors to eternal torment.
Of course, the video was featured on every daily and morning news program and was the top story on the national evening news. Death Angels by nature are always detestable and unwelcome, so it came as an utter shock to Lucine that people actually liked the look and sound of her. Offers for television and personal appearances began to pour in, all of which she rejected.
Although much of her fright had left thanks to Hela's ministrations, she still had a healthy desire for self-preservation. The Internet and sensationalist papers were full of the sad stories of public figures who had self-immolated on the altar of greed and ego. The former death angel had no desire to parade down a runway or appear at a movie premiere.
Every Macy's store in the country had a run on Lucine's sweater and jersey outfit. An entire factory in China hummed with activity to make up for the shortfall. The president of Macy's contacted Lucine to thank her for her business and kind words, and gave her a lifetime supply of whatever it was that Macy's sold that she might want. She immediately ordered two pillow top king-size mattresses to put together in order to accommodate her wingspan (it had been rather painful to suspend her wings over the side of their double bed), but she later discovered that their bedroom was not large enough to house both of them. Tearfully, she had to send one back.
Tom had his own brainstorm, contacting the promoters of the gala and suggesting that a version of Lucine's jersey featuring a small pair of black crystal angel wings on the right shoulder be sold to benefit those who lost their loved ones in the Freedom Tower attack. Of course, the family of Bernard Chouet – the man killed by the hijackers – would also benefit from the sale of what came to be marketed as Lucine Shirts ™. Millions were sold within two months of the angel's YouTube debut.
American coffee consumption spiked 14 per cent.
XXXXX
Lucine had been working late and Tom was a little concerned.
Of course, her safety was not an issue. The NYPD actually announced that any attempt on Lucine's life as she flew above the city would be dealt with most harshly, and not by them. Within the next few weeks, an additional sixty-seven men dropped dead because they chose to ignore it and took pot-shots at her. After all, it was the sting of sin and the price of vice and there was nothing the Mannings could do about it. Free will is free will, after all.
Dr. Thomas Manning had never been a rich man because he had spent his life as a law enforcement officer and not a very highly-paid one at that. As a consequence, he had spent a great deal of his life worrying about money. Lucine – who never had to concern herself with dollars and cents – watched with trepidation each time he paid bills or received investment reports.
"I do not like those yellow envelopes he gets in the mail," Lucine had informed Liz gravely. "I wish you could burn them up with your fingers."
She worried about Tom's ulcer and his reflux and his high blood pressure and one gloomy Sunday afternoon she got her own brainstorm. Cheered, she arranged a meeting with the higher-ups at the Freedom Tower the following afternoon and met with them throughout the week.
XXXXXXX
This made Lucine late for dinner at the Manning household several nights in a row.
It wasn't the loss of her cooking that made Tom's heart heavy (although her fahdreiteh chicken dish had been a hit); what he so keenly missed was her companionship after a hard day of busting heavies at the office. He would have cheerfully eaten Friskies Classic Pate' Chicken dinner on a toasted English muffin if she had prepared it for him.
Tom now opened the freezer door and fished out a turkey pie. He tossed it onto the kitchen counter, which it hit with a dismal clang. Deciding he wasn't up to finding the baking sheet and throwing away the empty box and setting the oven on preheat and waiting for it to heat and then waiting nearly an hour to sate his appetite on something that probably tasted like the box it came in, he sat down heavily at the kitchen table and sighed. Then, after about twenty seconds of self pity, he got up to grab a box of Tam Tam crackers and began to pack them in, one by one. He was starving.
It was then that his front door opened; thus began one of the happiest evenings of Tom Manning's life.
He immediately realized two wonderful things: first, that his Lucine was home; and second, that she had arrived with an armload of Chinese take-out.
"God is good!" shouted Tom Manning as he went to help her.