Three ancient stones embedded in a golden compass holds more than secrets, it would hopefully lead to the end of a long ongoing nightmare.
The dial turns, clicking the stones to reveal yet another part of the mystery. Ichabod's blue eyes grow wider with each new discovery, his fingers flipping the pages of the Judas book.
Abbie places a cup of coffee down on the desk as she sways Graceson on her hip. The almost two year old asks his mother over and over to dance. She takes his small hand as they dance in circles.
The sound of laughter fills the room as Jenny and Luke come in holding hands. Jenny was getting more comfortable with public displays of affection. Seeing her sister happy was all Abbie had ever wanted and seeing the happy couple now gave her hope that Jenny would know the happiness she and Ichabod have.
"Let me have my nephew. How about you and I walk Luke to work?" Jenny walks away from Abbie waving her hand.
"Go on … but now ice cream Jenny. We're leaving for dinner soon." Watching them leave Abbie smiles as Jenny winks at her.
Walking over to the desk, Ichabod looks up at her. His large hand reaches out to rub her impressive round belly. "Are you feeling well today my love? I notice you are moving somewhat slower today."
"I'm fine sweetheart. This baby is getting bigger every day and I swear I don't believe I was this big with Graceson." She sits down on the desk, her hand taking his. "I have something to ask you."
Placing the Dial of Three on the desk he gives his pregnant beauty all his attention. "Yes wife … ask away."
Her honey brown eyes gaze down into the liquid ocean of his, her face becoming soft. "Ichabod … can we please find out the sex of the baby. I know you want to be surprised but I really want to know. Please …" She gives him a cheesy grin, her fingers lacing into his.
"If that is what you wish my dear wife then yes of course." Ichabod smiles as she kisses his cheek.
She pulls a small envelope from her jacket, her smile beaming brighter than the noon day sun. Ichabod rises from his chair, walking up behind her. "I asked the doctor for the results, just in case we had to know."
"We? I don't believe my curiosity is the cause for this deception Abigail. This envelope is proof you never intended on waiting for the birth of our child to discover the gender. You, my beauty, have no patience. One of the many endearing qualities you possess that makes me love you so." She gives him a long, heated kiss as her arms wrap around his neck.
Ichabod kisses her back, his lips enjoying the soft lusciousness of her mouth. Releasing her from the kiss he gives her a sly smirk. "Ichabod … no. We are not having sex in here. I'm as big as a house and I need a big comfy bed to preform my wifely duties."
Running his hand down her sides and resting them on her belly, his heated lustful glare turns softer. "The only duty that is required of you Abbie is to take care of yourself and our unborn child. Now … can we discover the gender or must I wait?"
"Do you want a boy or a girl?" She teases him with the results, barely lifting them from the envelope.
He kisses her forehead as he takes the envelope from her. Holding it above his head he lets out a hardy chuckle watching her try to reach it. With his back turned to her he reads the results, turning back to her with tears in his eyes.
"What Ichabod? Come one … please tell me." Her bottom lip juts out, Abbie in full on pout mode.
He takes her hand, the two of them sitting down at the desk. "Our house will soon be blessed with a daughter."
As if on cue, Jenny walks in with Graceson. Abbie shares the happy news, Graceson not sure if he wants a little sister.
"That's awesome Abbie. So … got any names in mind. Maybe, Jenny?" The two sisters giggle at each other, Abbie shaking her head.
Going back to the dial, Ichabod leaves the girls to enjoy their small talk. Graceson pulls up on the desk, trying to watch his father.
Taking his son he places him on the desk, the small boys blue eyes watching every movement his father makes. "I help Dad."
Ruffling his bouncing brown curls, Ichabod pulls his son in his lap. "Watch Graceson."
He turns the dial twice when the Stone of Days glows, the other two stones turning a pure white. "Abigail … come quickly."
Jenny and Abbie rush over to him, Abbie taking her son. "Is that supposed to happen?"
"I'm not sure but I'm only one cypher away from unlocking the Riddle of Ages." Suddenly the Dial of Three spins uncontrollably, the stones rattling as it spins.
All three stones turn from white to black to a vibrant red before the dial stops, all the stones locked on the same symbol. Examining it closely Ichabod looks up at his family, a ghostly pale creeping across his face.
"This cannot be, no. I will not accept this." He slams his fist on the table, making Abbie flinch.
"Ichabod?" Holding Graceson close she looks at her husband, knowing in her heart something was very wrong.
With the wave of his hand he sends the book, the scroll and the dial sailing to the floor. A rage like anger covers his face as he begins to scream. "I will not! How can a God of mercy expect a man to give so much only to be told he must give more? I will not!"
Abbie and Jenny stand dumbfounded, Jenny looking down at the paper Ichabod had been writing on. Using her ability to fill in the blanks she looks over to Abbie, reading the paper out loud.
"The unholy beast and Riders four can only be stopped with the blood of the Witness born." Jenny walks over to Ichabod, giving him a quick hug. "Does this mean you or Abbie have to die to defeat Moloch and stop the Horsemen?"
"No … these riddles always have a hidden meaning. Tell her Ichabod; tell her this damn prophecy isn't saying we have to die to defeat Moloch." Graceson starts to cry as Abbie kisses his forehead.
Sitting down in the leather chairs against the wall, Ichabod covers his face with his hand. Shaking his head he beings to tell Abbie the truth behind the Riddle of Ages.
"Moloch and the Horsemen can and will be defeated upon the blood of a child born to a Witness. One of our children Abbie must be sacrificed to stop the Apocalypse." A small sigh leaves his lips as he lowers his head and begins to weep.
Sitting down next to her husband, Abbie takes his hand. She loving kisses his palm, resting his hand over her belly. "Our children will not be sacrificed, we will find another way."
They both look up when they hear the archive door slam shut, Jenny gone.
Following Jenny, they find her at the precinct in Captain Irving's office. Abbie opens the door slowly, giving her sister and the Captain a hooded glare.
"What is going on here Jenny?" Her voice stays steady, her eyes never leaving her sister.
Ichabod walks past his wife, his own eyes locked on something he had not noticed in the Captain's office before. Picking up a small shadow box from the shelf he looks back at Irving and everything suddenly becomes very clear to him.
"This pamphlet … how did you come to possess it?" He places the shadow box down on the desk as he faces Irving.
Frank picks it up, passing it to Abbie. She reads the words Abdication of The American Revelation. The name at the bottom of the yellowing document reads, Cicero. "It's been six years since Ichabod told this story to prove himself to the Freemason, six years of fighting all sorts of demons and evil that found its way to Sleep Hollow. You knew even back then, you knew and didn't even blink an eye when I would come to you."
"I'm sorry Abbie; Frank made me promise to keep his secret. I found out when he accidently bumped into Henry Parrish that day in the tunnels. I know Henry wants to stay clear of all of this; he's too weak for the fight. That first year took a lot out of him and since he consumed Ichabod's sins he's not been the same." Jenny takes the shadow box from Abbie, kissing a very docile Graceson on the head.
Abbie closes her eyes, shaking her head. "What does any of this have to do with the Riddle of Ages?"
Irving leans against the desk, crossing his feet over. With a relaxed tone he begins to tell Abbie and Ichabod the truth. "I am a descendant of Arthur Bernard. My family has fought this fight for generations. I swore to myself I wouldn't get caught up in all this craziness. I choose to become a police officer to fulfill my promise to my mother to serve and protect. When I got a call that a headless horseman was in Sleepy Hollow and Sheriff Corbin was dead, I knew I was being called to a higher purpose. It took me a year or so to gain my bearings but once I did I gave all I had to protect the two Witnesses and help you stop the Apocalypse."
"If your story be true Captain Irving then tell me, can you provide me proof beyond this document?" Ichabod's skeptic eyes watch as Irving removes his shirt, showing three small words tattooed across his right shoulder.
Abbie and Ichabod both stare at the words, Orbo Ab Chao.
"Satisfied Crane?" Frank pulls his shirt back on, a coy smirk on his face.
Graceson lays his head on his mother's shoulders, whispering to her. "He's good Momma."
Irving gives the small boy a big smile, nodding to him. "Like his father I believe Graceson has what we call the second sight. He can see demons in human form, sense the presence of evil. He is the first born child of the Witnesses … that makes him special Abbie."
"That's why I came to Frank, to tell him about those damn stones and what you found." Jenny's brown eyes look so lovingly at her sister, her own heart baring her sister's burden.
"How do we stop the Apocalypse and Moloch without the blood or death of my child, because I'm here to tell you that ain't happening?" Abbie cradles Graceson's head, kissing me softly.
Lacing his fingers together and placing both index fingers to his mouth, Ichabod looks over to Irving with a half-smile. "Do you belong to an order of Freemasons, Captain?"
"Yes, a very secret order. The Freemasons that you know, the one's that fight this fight with you they know nothing of our Order. Arthur and Katrina started an Order of witch and Freemason a long time ago. This Order keeps a balance between good and evil, always staying close to the White Coven that protects us. I didn't discover this Order until a few years ago. A man named Seth Petrov come to me told me I could do so much more. The Order of the Free is what we are called. Sort of fitting since Arthur Bernard was a freed slave, wrongly accused." Irving sits down behind his desk, a look of relief dripping from his face. He had been holding on to a secret, fighting alongside those he swore to protect and now finally he was freed from his secret.
"Then you must help us Captain. The life of our child is at stake. If the Freemasons discover the Riddle has been solved and the blood of our child can end all this, they will not stop till they have it." Wrapping his arms around his pregnant wife and child, Ichabod can feel the last year of tribulation begin and with it a war for more than the fate of the world, a war for the fate of his family.
