A/N: I couldn't do this without the help of my beta, Edwardsfirstkiss and pre-reader Sazzledazzled. They make the jumble of words I tap-out, presentable for public consumption. I owe them so many hugs!
Disclaimer: SM owns Twilight but I own a bratty Chow Chow named Bella. Or does she own me?
The Devil's Plan
Chapter 42
"Um, not that it's not nice to see you, Jasper" Bella said, turning to give the boy in the back seat a tight smile. "But I'm curious as to why you wanted to come with us?" Bella questioned from the passenger seat of Edward's Volvo.
"I thought if you were to become overly emotional, I could sit in the back and offer you comfort while he drives us back." Devilward offered smoothly with a quick glance in the rearview mirror. Jasper nodded in understanding. He was to sit silently and nod.
Bella quickly thanked him for his thoughtfulness, not knowing that Satan's true reason for dragging the blond boy with them was to keep his minion close. Satan hadn't fully believed the quickly offered explanation blurted out after waking up in Edward's room to find Ba'al, Astarte and the man-child, Emmett all staring at him as he laid supine on the bed. It rankled him far more than he'd let on that he couldn't remember arriving back to the Cullen's and falling asleep. He suspected that something was going on, but was unable to figure it out and unwilling to let anyone know he was confused.
"While snuggling in the back is always a win, I hope that you're wrong. But judging from my last visit, I would guess you might be right." Bella commented with a sigh. She turned away from her frowning boyfriend and looked out the window. She allowed her mind to empty as she watched the scenery flow by in blurs of green and brown. It had been a difficult couple of days. With Edward's encouragement and prodding, she'd confronted her father with her suspicions regarding her mother being pregnant at the time of her disappearance and had agreed that she needed to look at the Father's journal. The conversation with her father had not gone well and for the past couple of days Bella's father had been mostly avoiding her. The few times she'd caught him either coming in or leaving for work, he'd offered nothing more than a quick nod and a reminder to do her homework or to not stay up late. She knew he'd have a problem coming to terms with that she'd told him. But his aloofness was not what Bella was used to from her father and it was taking its toll.
The three rode the rest of the way to Port Angeles in silence. Each a silent keeper of their thoughts. While Bella's mind was filled with apprehension over what more she might uncover in the journals. Jasper was tasked with keeping his face from giving away how unsettled he was. Having the King of Hell summon you for an early morning impromptu car ride, was never a good sign. Especially, after spending most of the previous night plotting with said Devil's enemy. Once the group had gotten Edward up to his room, it had only been a minute or so before the Devil appeared. To say that Satan had been surprised to find them all in the room with him, was an understatement. To her credit, Rose had been quick with an explanation that seemed to placate the beast, but Jasper was now wondering if Satan was not as placated as he previously thought.
Satan was on a mission. He had six days to see his plan come to fruition. Six. Days. The Vernal Equinox would take place on the 20th. Getting Bella to open herself to him had proven to be much more difficult than he'd originally thought. He'd never been this close to achieving his end goal of dealing his father a blow that he would not recover from. If it meant that he'd waste a day traveling to a church to retrieve the journals of a long dead man, thus pushing Bella further into despair and into his bed, then so be it.
Besides, he was halfway looking forward to waltzing onto the consecrated ground, thus issuing a 'fuck you' to the entity it belonged to.
"There, to the right." Bella pointed to the parking area in front of the grand church. Devilward deftly maneuvered the car into an open spot.
Bella and Jasper got out of the car and immediately began walking up the stairs, not noticing that their companion wasn't right behind them.
Devilward stared up at the high peaks of the majestic building, and was surprised at the emotions that ran through his being. Being in the presence of consecrated ground, surrounded by the symbols and words of his father stunned him. This was the closest he'd ever been to one of his father's houses since his falling. The last time he'd been to this exact house, he'd been forced to lurk in the shadows across the street. He hadn't been afforded a vessel and had been forced to erect a facade so that people would see a face and body that they recognized as human. But those facades weren't real so he'd kept his own soul, thus precluding his entry onto the hallowed grounds.
Today, his camouflage was complete with a pure soul. Thanks to Edward, Satan could walk through the doors of the church without worry. Yet, he stood as still as stone a mere 50 feet from his goal.
Being thrown out of his home and losing his family was a wound that he rarely allowed himself to pick at, but now, staring at the majesty of the church and all that it symbolically represented, Satan suddenly felt an overwhelming need to itch the scab where his soul used to reside. Emotions were not part of the angel programming, or that's what he'd been led to believe. Most of his siblings existed in a calm and serene realm where they accepted all things with grace and humility, never questioning, never fighting to change the course of their father's will. Lucifer had been one of those angels. Until he wasn't.
His need to understand why his father would push him and his siblings aside for inferior beings had burned in him until he'd given voice to his confusion, resentment and ultimately anger. And what had it earned him? A blackened soul and banishment from the only family he'd ever known. Still, for a moment Satan was overcome with a feeling of reverence for the symbolic building before him. His angelic grace, long thought to have been totally obscured by the blackness of his soul, twitched and burned inside what was left of God's most favored angel as it recognized how close it was to home.
"Edward, are you okay?" Devilward tore his eyes from the cross adorning the church's steeple to see Bella and Ba'al watching him from the doorway. Ba'al's expression was unreadable next to the one of concern shown on Bella's face. Satan rubbed his chest, willing the burning to stop. He was this close to having his revenge, he wasn't going to allow emotions he wasn't supposed to possess, stop him.
"Fine." Devilward bounded up the cement stairs to where Bella and Ba'al waited. "Shall we?" He opened the heavy door and ushered Bella inside.
Ba'al stopped at the entrance. "Sire, are you sure that I will be allowed entry?" He asked in a hushed voice too low for Bella to hear. He was still unsure of what would happen if a dethroned demi-god like himself dared to enter a House of God.
Devilward fixed his companion with a steely gaze. "We shall see." He answered with a smirk.
Satan and Ba'al stepped inside. One of them held his breath and braced for whatever retribution may come his way. The other laughed out loud at the lack of divine retribution upon his entry.
"Edward, shhhh." Bella cautioned. Her fingers motioned towards her mouth as she would shush a child.
Devilward scoffed at her concern. He spread his arms widely as he shouted to the vaulted ceiling, "Why? Will I be struck down like a devil in disguise?"
"No, but you can expect to be scolded like a disrespectful child." Devilward whipped around to face the voice behind them.
"Father Accardi, I'm sorry, we didn't mean to be disrespectful." Devilward frowned at Bella's apology before turning his attention to the priest.
"Scolded? And just who are you to scold me?" Bella gasped at Devilward's lack of respect. Ba'al scooted further into the shadows, hoping to avoid being noticed.
Father Accardi took in the boy in front of him. He'd dealt with this type of youth before. Young men and women looking to push their boundaries and question authority were not a new puzzle for him.
"I am a servant to the lord. Of whom this house of worship belongs to. If you cannot show the proper respect, I will have to ask you to leave." Father Accardi fixed the belligerent young man with a pointed stare.
"Are you telling me that your God would throw out a soul seeking answers?" Devilward asked with a sly grin.
"Of course not. All of God's children are welcome in his house, but I must insist that you behave respectfully while you are here," Father Accardi said before turning his attention away from Devilward. "Miss Swan, it's a pleasure to see you again. But, what may I ask, brings you back?"
"Father, I've come to ask you to give me the journals."
Father Accardi tilted his head to the side. "I thought we had agreed that you would be allowed to look at them but that they would stay in possession of the church."
Bella dropped her head, shielding her eyes from the priest. She was beginning to think that coming here wasn't a good idea. "We did. But I want-I need more information."
"They pertain directly to her family. Your church has no right to hide the truth from her." Devilward insisted, while sizing up the collared man. Satan quickly assessed his age at around 35, his height a solid six foot and approximately 185 pounds. This was not the normal, wizened old man that generally kept his Father's house.
"Young man what is your name?" Father Accardi quickly addressed the disrespectful boy. Immediately noticing he was well dressed and groomed, probably highly intelligent as well. He'd seen these kinds of young men before. They want to throw stones at everything they don't understand. It was best to ignore their petty jibes and to allow them to come to Christ on their own.
"I'm called by many names," Devilward's eyes glowed darkly. "But today you may call me Edward. And you don't know me, I assure you." Father Accardi quickly masked his surprise at the boy's quick detection of his thoughts. He smiled at the glowering child and ignored his barb.
"And your friend?" Ba'al held his breath as the priest pointed to where he was lurking in the shadowed corner.
"He's of no consequence." Devilward's gaze never faltered from Father Accardi as he quickly dismissed Ba'al.
"Edward, what has gotten into you? Father, his name is Jasper Hale. He's...a friend." Bella was beyond confused at Edward's behavior.
"Well, now that we've all been acquainted, why don't we sit and talk?" Father Accardi smiled and motioned for the group to follow him into the sanctuary, stopping to dip his fingers into the holy water and making the sign of the cross. Bella followed with Jasper a few steps behind her. Devilward hung back at the entrance.
"My office is being painted," Father Accardi explained, motioning toward the front pews. "So this will have to do." Bella sat down beside the priest in the front row. Just as the last time she was here, a feeling of calm came over her. The feelings of anxiety, fear and frustration that had been her constant companions since that fateful Halloween in the Cullen's basement, didn't go completely away, but they did mellow a bit when she was in this building. She didn't put a definition to what she felt, but Bella accepted that there was a difference. She took a deep breath and felt her shoulders and neck relax on the exhale as she gathered her thoughts. The church was decorated differently than it had been the first time she had visited. The altar and the depiction of Christ on the cross were draped in purple rather than the usual white. Also gone were the fresh flower arrangements she had expected to be adorning the front of the sanctuary.
Sensing her uneasiness, Father Accardi lightly touched her arm and pointed at the large depiction of Jesus on the cross, hanging at the head of the altar. "You know, he can take all of your fears away if you allow him in."
"Really, Father? You mean all she has to do is say 'Jesus, take the wheel' and all of her problems magically disappear? Your savior sounds more like a magician than a messiah." Father Accardi turned to address the rude young man that was now sprawled in a pew two rows behind him.
"The soul that has accepted Christ as their savior needn't carry their burdens alone. Put your trust in the Lord and you will find yourself with a lifted heart and spirit."
"Pretty promises with nothing to back them up." Devilward scoffed at the priest's promises.
"Edward!" Bella exclaimed, truly embarrassed by his behavior. "Father, I-we didn't come here to fight-"
"It's quite alright," Father Accardi assured the shocked young woman. "It's obvious your friend is mired in darkness. It is my job to show all of God's children the light. But they must choose to allow it in." Devilward began to slow clap at the priest's words.
"Choose? That's right, humans get to decide for themselves whether they swallow your crap or not. Humans are allowed to question the Word of God. They're allowed to decide to blindly follow without a thought in their heads that wasn't put in there by your ilk or to live free and make their own decisions."
Both Bella and Father Accardi were perplexed at Devilward's use of the word human. But neither commented.
"My child, you are-"
"I'm not your child! Do not address me in such a disrespectful manner again!" Devilward spat, leaning forward from his seat on the wooden bench. His dark eyes affixed firmly onto the priest's shocked face.
"We are all God's children." Father Accardi answered calmly. Ba'al took a deep breath and tried to sink further into the unyielding wooden bench as Satan prepared to spar with the priest. He was unsure as to what was expected of him should Satan call on him and he was more than a little intimidated by the aura that permeated the holy space. He felt the best defense was to hide.
"Really?" Devilward snorted. "Then tell me, why does God punish those that question him? Why did he forsake his son for using the same free will that you speak of as such a gift? Your kind thinks you know so much about what God wants or is and none of you have ever been in his presence. In reality you have no idea what the hell you are talking about." Father Accardi's brow furrowed at the emotional statement.
Silence fell over the group. The only sound was muted traffic noise from the street outside. Bella's silence was due to the fact that she had no understanding of what was going on to explain Edward's behavior. Edward had never professed to be spiritual but he'd never professed to hold such venom for God. Bella decided that his acting out must be a leftover emotion over Tanya's suicide and mourning over the loss of his unborn child. She understood that those emotions would stir strong feelings in anyone, and Edward had been through so much in his young life. It was not a surprise that he blamed God, but she hadn't anticipated such a strong reaction.
Ba'al sat silently wishing that he could escape as he was sure Satan was not done toying with the priest.
The silence stretched to the point of being uncomfortable, at least for Bella and Ba'al. Devilward seemed to be rather pleased with himself. If the smug look on his face was any indication. Bella was just about to suggest the trio leave when Father Accardi spoke. His voice was calm and his words measured.
"I do not need to physically see God to accept his existence. I feel my Lord's presence at every sunrise. I see his work in the flowers that bloom each spring. I hear his voice in the melodies of the birds as they call to their mates, I feel his helping hands when my burdens weigh me down and I see his love when a mother or father gazes upon the face of their newborn child," Father Accardi said before pausing. He bowed his head as if in prayer before speaking directly to the angry young man. "Your insistence that physical proof must exist in order for you to accept his existence is nothing but the rhetoric of a broken soul that is in the most need of God's love. I'll pray for you."
The priest's words hadn't left his mouth for more than a few seconds before Devilward jumped from his seat, leaping over the pews that separated him from the collared man to land directly in front of him in a predator like stance.
"Edward!" Bella called out in alarm as she witnessed her boyfriend reaching out to roughly grab the priest's shirt, pulling him close. "What is wrong with you?" She demanded as she stood up to move toward him.
"Bella, don't-come here." Jasper demanded of the shocked girl. When she didn't move, he quickly threw his arm around her waist and pulled her to the back of the sanctuary. Devilward didn't spare them a glance as they moved away.
"Jasper, let me go. Did you see what he did? He's acting like he's insane or something. He's not right." Bella's description of the spectacle inside the sanctuary made more sense to him than he could admit to her. He wordlessly walked, half dragged her out of the room, depositing her onto a plain wooden bench outside of the room, shutting the heavy doors behind him. Jasper looked at the wide-eyed girl before him. He couldn't imagine what the poor girl was thinking. The shock of witnessing her human boyfriend morph into something decidedly not human would be enough to send most mortals into a tailspin. But having Bella lose control now, before they were ready to battle Satan, wouldn't help their cause. The Devil had to believe that she was still under his spell. And that meant that he would have to momentarily play the role Satan had originally assigned to him.
Ba'al calmed himself and drew upon every persuasion skill he possessed and addressed the trembling and rocking girl. "Bella, you must listen to me. Focus on my voice." Bella ignored him and continued rocking back and forth with her arms tightly clasped around her middle. Sighing, Ba'al kneeled down in front of her, placing his hands firmly in her thighs. "Bella," he said forcefully while staring into her glazed eyes. "You witnessed nothing out of the ordinary. Edward is just upset." Bella began shaking her head in denial.
"No! That wasn't my Edward!" She forced out through chattering teeth.
"You need to forget what you saw… Your Edward is in there. He's fighting for you." Bella stopped rocking and looked into Ba'al's eyes.
"Fighting for me?" She questioned.
"Yes, for you...for all of us. But he can't do that if you turn him away."
"But...did you see…?"
"Listen to me. Do you love him?"
"Yes." Bella croaked out as tears ran down her face.
"Good. Listen to me. You have to forget what you saw. You have to forget. "
As Ba'al attempted to persuade Bella to forget that she saw her boyfriend manhandle a Man of God like he was a rag doll, said boyfriend was still battling inside the church.
"Pray for me?" Devilward spat. He leaned down further into the priest's face, his voice barely above a whisper yet, his tone was anything but soft. "I can assure you; your prayers will go unanswered. My father long ago stopped caring about me." The venom behind his words dripped unhindered down the corners of his twisted mouth.
"You're wrong," Father Accardi insisted as he struggled to pull himself from the clearly deranged boy's grasp. "God cares about all of his children." He proclaimed just vehemently as his captor denied it.
"Tell me Father," Devilward used the term with disdain. "What do you know of his firstborn?"
"I, uh, you mean Christ?" Devilward's eyes darkened and his lips curled tighter as his face morphed into something truly sinister.
"Jesus was not his first!" Devilward exploded, tossing the shaken priest towards the altar with the ease of tossing a feather. Father Accardi emitted a whimper as his back struck the hard steps.
Devilward moved towards Father Accardi like a predator tracking his prey, giving no thought to Bella and Ba'al's presence in the hallway. His initial goal of simply thumbing his nose at God by entering the church and obtaining the accursed journal, was forgotten as he engaged in a battle over the metaphysical spiritual world with the priest.
"I know you believe that he came first. You believe the words that had been tossed around between men for centuries in a thousand languages before settling on the version you now cling to. ButI was there. My brothers and sister were the first. We sat at his feet. We lived in his world doing his bidding. We were his perfect children. But our undying love wasn't enough! He wasn't satisfied with just us. So, he created new children and when I questioned him, I was tossed aside without a thought. His new son took my place at his side. Who am I?" Satan demanded with a snarl.
Father Accardi shook with fear as he stared into the eyes of the beast. The eyes that returned his stare were blackened with rage. As a servant to God and his community, Father Accardi had seen drug addicts so high that they thought they could fly. He'd seen people at such low depths that they no longer cared to take one more breath and he'd stared into the eyes of abusers of children and heard their confessions of unspeakable sin. Yet, he'd still felt in his heart that he could find a way to forgive them, and that if they opened their hearts to God, they would be saved. Redemption was theirs to ask for. But in the eyes of the being that handled his one hundred-and eighty- pound body as if it weighed no more than a few ounces, he saw no redemption. There was nothing staring back at him but pure hate and a darkness that he could only explain as all-consuming. All at once the realization of who was in front of him dawned on him. "Satan."
"Yes." Satan answered, pleased to be recognized.
Father Accardi blinked and swallowed harshly. He was staring into the face of the Devil. He'd been taught about possession in seminary school but hadn't been schooled specifically in the art of fighting demons. His mind quickly went to Bella. Did she know that Lucifer was inhabiting this boy? Was she working with him? No. He quickly pushed that thought back down. When he looked into her eyes, he saw kindness and a pure soul. Albeit a sad soul, but nothing like the aberration that was currently hovering over him.
"What do you want?" Father Accardi's voice wavered with fear as his mind struggled to accept what was staring him in the face.
Lucifer's mouth quirked up into a twisted smile. "It's rather simple, I want what was mine at creation."
Father Accardi shook his head. "I don't kno-"
"Yes, you do." For the first time since revealing who he really was, Lucifer spoke calmly. The effects of spilling his plan to this confused man in his father's house had unexpectedly given him a sense of peace. The anger that he had been directing at the duped man was really meant for his father. Satan, released his hold on the frightened man and leaned back onto the step, brushing the carpet fibers from his jeans. As blood and oxygen once again rushed towards his brain and lungs, Father Accardi tugged on the constricting white collar and watched the creature's movements with a cautious eye.
Lucifer watched the priest from the corner of his eye before turning his attention to the beauty of the church. The stained-glass windows were beautiful in their depiction of the stories found in the Bible. Satan stood up, leaving the altar to walk towards the windows on the east wall. There were six stained glass windows in all. The number was mirrored on the west wall. Satan found himself drawn to the second window. "Ah," he said, turning toward the priest. "Here we have all of the usual suspects." He announced, pointing to the stained glass depiction of the Last Supper. "Jesus, begins his martyrdom." He then moved quickly to the large middle window.
Satan snorts. "The crucifixion. Jesus solidifies his place at God's side and earns his wings. And of course, the ubiquitous Sacred Heart." Lucifer stared at the large red heart encircled by a crown of thorns, bathed in yellow bursts of light while pierced at the top by a cross. He studied the window with an intensity that is unsettling to Father Accardi. The scene depicted Jesus's undying love for humanity and as the title stated, was sacred to Catholics. Having the Lord of Hell cast his black gaze on the heart of Jesus, was nothing short of blasphemy in the priest's eyes.
As if bored by the window, Satan turned and scurried to the opposite wall. Father Accardi watched with weary eyes as the Lord of Hell rushed past the first four windows to finally stop at the second picture from the end.
Satan tore his eyes away from the window with a chuckle. "Ah, here it is. Archangel Michael vs. the Devil. This is one of the more popular depictions of this battle." He remarked, pointing to the scene above him that illustrated the battle between the two when Lucifer and his followers were thrown from heaven. Michael was shown stomping on the Devil's horned face as his army defeats the Devil's band of followers.
"You people do love to put me in the worst light. But you know it didn't happen exactly as this depicts. And it wasn't for the reason that you think." Lucifer turned to view the priest still sitting on the steps behind him. "Tell me, father. Would you like to know the truth?"
"I know better than to trust your word." Lucifer laughed at the priest's statement.
"Yes, of course. I'm the original liar. The teller of falsehoods, the tempter of the innocent and the ruiner of man. You know there has to be a villain in every story and I was the most convenient choice. But it didn't have to be." He turned away from Father Accardi and again surveyed the illustration.
"Do you know that my name, my original name, means 'light bearer'. I was the Morning-Star in the heavens. I was supposed to sit at his side. I was the favored child, though I had no notion of that in the beginning. I thought we- all of my brothers and sisters were loved equally." Father Accardi's face twisted in confusion as Lucifer's voice took on a wistful sound, almost sad. "In the beginning, everything was perfect. Just as you have imagined. But then… He arrived." Lucifer's tone changed to one with an underlying current of anger. He turned his attention from the window representing his fall from grace to storm back to the altar. He stopped at the foot of Christ on the cross, pointing angrily at the messiah.
"When he arrived, everything changed! Suddenly we were not good enough. Mankind was to be the preferred children. They were all given what we were not. Unquestioning love. And all they had to do was believe. While we had to obey his every word without question. We were given free will, but if we used it...well, you know what happens to angels that question the word of God." He said sarcasm and anger dripped from his words. "I lost everything because of him. My siblings...my home...my father. Yet, all is forgiven if you follow his newest son." Father Accardi gasped in horror when the Devil walked to the foot of Christ and spit on his nailed feet.
"But I'm going to fix that mistake. I'm going to replace his son with my own."
"No!" Lucifer smiled at Father Accardi's yelled denial.
Laughing, Lucifer fixed the priest with a dark stare. "You can deny all you want but I have never been this close to my goal. There's nothing your cries of denial or your church can do about it." Father Accardi slumped on the step. His whole body seemed to pull inward as he tried to process what the Devil was telling him. Suddenly, he remembered the Devil had companions.
"What are your plans for Bella?"
"My dear man, she's the lynch pin for the whole plan. She will give herself to me and then I will give her my seed. And then she will deliver my son. Simplicity at its best." Satan boasted.
"No," Father Accardi acclaimed in horror. "She's an innocent child. She will never agree to your…" His voice faltered as all he knew about Bella Swan came rushing into his head like a runaway tidal wave. "You! It was you. All those things written in the journal. All of those horrible accidents that have befallen her ancestors… It was you. Everything he wrote...It was all true?"
Satan sauntered over to where the priest and kneeled in front of the shaking man. "Yes," he admitted freely. "It was me. And I must say it's been quite tiring." He stated with a sigh. "All of those people and each one had to be removed until my Swan was the last. Incredibly tedious. Her mother and the other priest proved to be more difficult than the rest, but things have worked out in the end so I won't complain."
Everything that he'd read in Father Ignatius's journal, all that Bella had learned in her mother's journal had been true. Father Accardi struggled to keep his mind from exploding with the horrible knowledge. "The boy…"
Satan nodded in understanding. "Borrowed and freely given. The boy wanted a way out of the dark hole he'd gotten himself stuck in and I kindly offered to help. See? I'm not the horrible guy you make me out to be."
"You must have tricked him. No one would freely give themselves over to the likes of you." Satan's somewhat jovial mood evaporated at the priest's accusation.
"You people give me too much credit," Satan growled. "You have no idea the darkness that hides in the hearts of humans. A little push here and a little nudge there...You make your own decisions." Satan said with a shrug more befitting of the teenager he inhabited rather than the Lord of Hell.
Father Accardi recoiled at Satan's words.
"No one would do your bidding of their own free will."
"Wrong! You people were given free will and what do you do with it? You kill for money, power, oil, sex… Tell me Father, how many wars have been waged in the name of God? The messiah that you so reverently defend and worship preached love, forgiveness and acceptance yet, Christians have ended countless lives simply because others didn't believe in your savior." Father Accardi was stunned silent at Lucifer's accusations.
"Ah, you can't defend those actions. What about the man that abuses his wife or children because he can't handle his alcohol? What about the mother that poisons her children for attention or the pedophile that does the unspeakable to the innocent? Am I to blame for all of that? No, the truth is I have no hand in such things, that's all on you. Humans use their free will to perpetrate hideous crimes against humanity. And you forgive them. You tell them they are loved and they will have a place in God's house while I am vilified and forbidden from entering that same house. Tell me does that seem fair?"
Father Accardi listened to Satan's statement. He couldn't deny the truths that the fallen angel had laid at his feet. Still, this was the Devil. The twister of words. His whole purpose was to tempt mankind to take the easy road, to make the selfish decision and to serve no one but themselves. The Devil wanted him to agree with his claims. He wanted him to turn from his God.
"I cannot deny that man is flawed and regularly commits heinous acts upon others. But my job is not to judge. It is to offer forgiveness and a path to the light where man can find the strength to do the right thing and to know that they are loved."
Satan leaned his head back and let out a harsh laugh. "Forgiveness. Love. Light? Your forgiveness or promise of eternal love doesn't change anything. They listen to your words, say your penance and then go out and beat their child or steal from their employer-the list goes on. I sit back and wait to collect them when their time is up. All of your forgiveness is for not because they still end up with me." He pointed a finger at his chest to accentuate his revelation.
Satan studied the silent priest. "Nothing to say Father? All of your words mean nothing if the person you try so hard to save chooses to do what is already in their heart. I'm going to make things simple. Follow the rules or not. I'm going to allow humans to use that free will they are so proud of. I'm not going to lie to them, give them false hope. They will live and die by the decisions they make with no false promises. If a soul is destined for Hell, I will simply be cutting out the middleman and taking them the minute, their choice is made." Satan sounded so proud of himself with his simple plan. It sounded to the priest that Satan believed he was doing a kindness to humanity.
Father Accardi lifted his head, his eyes shimmered in unshed tears. "You're wrong. If shown the way, people will make the right choice and take their place in heaven. Our Lord Jesus Christ died to save all of our souls. There's nothing you can do that will change that fact." Satan's face twisted into a snarl.
"No, you're wrong and there's nothing you can do about it." Devilward moved closer to the man on the floor to once again kneel down so he could look him in the eye. "I, on the other hand, can and will put things back to right. I will erase the mistake my father made." He lifted his head to the cathedral ceiling and looked to the heavens before declaring, "I will rule this world!"
Father Accardi closed his eyes and steepled his hands under his bowed head. His lips moved silently as he prayed.
"What the hell are you doing?" Satan demanded angrily.
Slowly, the priest lifted his eyes to meet the Devil's glare. "You may not believe in God's undying love. But I do. I'm praying that whatever force you have these innocent children under is thwarted. I'm praying for the Lord to end your ugly presence in his beautiful world and send you back to the depths of the underworld where you belong. You believe yourself to have been undeservedly punished and that you are the nothing but a misunderstood son. When in reality you are an ungrateful, spoiled child that could not understand that your father's love was there all along. All you had to do was accept it." Satan took a deep breath and stood up to hover intimidatingly over the still praying priest. He opened his mouth ready to let loose another tirade of denials, but was interrupted.
"I'm praying for you, Edward," Father Accardi looked directly into the face of the boy possessed by the Devil and spoke directly to him. "You are loved. No matter what you have done in the past, regardless of the guilt, shame or blame you bear, you are loved. I love you. God loves you...Bella loves you."
Father Accardi's heart skipped as the boy's face twisted into a look of seething rage. He lowered his head in preparation for the punishment he was sure that Satan was about to deliver.
"How dare you address him… Help me."
Father Accardi lifted his eyes in surprise to watch the body of the young man fall limply to the floor in front of him on folded knees. The boy's shoulders hunched in spasms as he cried, his torso lowered to the floor, hiding his face from the shocked priest. "Please help me." He pleaded again. His voice was uneven and hoarse.
Father Accardi, regardless of the worry that this was yet another trick, reached out and laid a shaky hand on the boy's trembling shoulder. "I will help you, Edward."
Bright green eyes, glossy with tears bore into Father Accardi's searching eyes. "Is that really you, Edward?"
The boy nodded, breathing heavily. "I can sometimes... get control." His face twisted, grimacing as if he were in pain. "When he's angry, it's harder for me...But when I feel certain emotions it's easier to push him back."
Father Accardi nodded and crawled toward the struggling boy. The hand resting on Edward's shoulder contracted, giving the boy a reassuring squeeze. From the struggle that the kneeling boy in front of him appeared to by waging, he realized that his time to speak to Edward was short. Lucifer could appear at any moment.
"Does Bella know?" Edward shook his head. The priest found himself sighing in relief and then worry. He was happy to learn that the girl was as innocent as she appeared but not recognizing that her boyfriend was hosting Satan in order to bring about the end times, was not ideal.
"No. He's used her fears against her for his end. She has no idea…" Edward pitched forward, grasping his head in pain. "He's trying to come back."
"You said that certain emotions allow you to keep control. What are they?" Father Accardi asked.
"Love. Unconditional love." Edward bit out in between gasps of pain.
Father Accardi immediately fell to his knees and placed his right hand on Edward's feverish head. Bowed in reverence, he uttered this prayer:
"Lord, thank you that you are a loving, gracious God.
I pray to you to fill your child with your loving spirit.
Lend him your strength so that he may defeat the Beast and banish The Morning Star, into the eternal darkness.
Lead him down the path that you have set.
I pray, Lord that you fill this man with your forgiveness, grace and love.
May the Lord, bless you and keep you.
In Jesus' name, amen."
As the priest's words filtered out into the room, Edward leaned into the man's comforting touch. Slowly, he felt his strength return to him and knew that the Devil's presence was receding into the back of his mind. Father Accardi noticed the boy's breathing had ceased its shallow cadence and was now a normal pace. He put both of his hands-on Edward's cheeks and lifted his head. The darkness was gone and the boy's natural eye color of vibrant green shone.
"I don't know what sins you carry that have brought you to this place. I know that to you they must be grave or you would never have allowed the Beast inside." Edward nodded but could barely keep the tears from his eyes as his sins counted themselves in his mind.
Father Accardi gave a curt nod in acknowledgement before continuing. "The battle that you fight has only just begun and if what the Devil has said is true, you battle for every soul on this Earth. If love is what's needed to defeat this darkness, then you have already gained the weapon you need. You are loved, Edward. God has blessed you with his undying love and whatever you have done is forgiven." The priest searched the boy's eyes for understanding.
"You don't know what I've done. The lives I've ruined…" Edward said. "I'm trying to atone."
"I forgive you. God forgives you." Edward fell forward in a shuddering heap. Father Accardi gathered the boy in his arms, offering his love as well as God's. Suddenly the priest reared back, placing his palm on Edward's forehead he said the words that he'd uttered countless times in the confessional.
Dominus noster Jesus Christus te absolvat; et ego auctoritate ipsius te absolvo ab omni vinculo excommunicationis (suspensionis) et interdicti in quantum possum et tu indiges. Deinde, ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis in nomine Patris, et Filii, + et Spiritus Sancti. Amen
As soon as the prayer of absolution ended. Edward opened his eyes and pulled away from the priest.
"Bella, I have to get to Bella…" Edward's eyes darted to the closed door that separated him from the girl that had first shown him love when he felt unworthy of even her time.
Edward got up from the floor and began running for the door that separated him from the person that held every hope he'd ever had for a future.
Father Accardi, sensing that his time was almost up, followed the boy down the aisle.
Just as Edward reached the heavy door that separated him from the girl he loved, Jonah Michael Accardi, the boy that had been baptized in this very church, the young man that sat on these hard wooden pews absorbing the words and teachings of his faith with wide eyes and an open heart, and now the man that had pledged his life, heart and soul to his savior, grabbed Edward's sleeve, halting the boy's progress.
"Edward, do you know when he's planning-" Edward interrupted the priest's question.
"The Equinox. The child has to be born before the resurrection. If it happens…" Edward swallowed as the terrified look of understanding appeared on the priest's face.
"Can you do this? Can you defeat him?" Jonah felt a pang of disappointment in himself for the question, but he was only human and even with the faith in God filling his heart, there was doubt.
"Father, I will do anything to keep Bella safe." Jonah nodded, releasing Edward's sleeve. The determination and stark honesty were blatant on the boy's face.
Placing his hand on Edward's forehead, Father Accardi blessed him. "Go with God. He will be by your side. Never doubt that."
"Thank you." Edward uttered solemnly, before turning to open the heavy door and rushing out into the hallway.
Father Accardi watched the boy leave, falling heavily onto the nearest pew before falling to his knees in prayer. "Father, watch over that child. He will need your guidance and strength if he is to save us all." Jonah Accardi, allowed himself a moment more of prayer before jumping up from the floor and running towards the offices. He didn't have much time to convince the Bishop that the Devil was in town and they would have to fight him.
Edward's glassy eyes darted around the hallway in search of his Bella. "Bella!" He yelled, running down the length of the empty corridor. In frustration, he heaved open the doors to the church to find Bella and Jasper leaning up against his car. Bella's shoulders were bowed and her head was down. Edward wanted to tear off the arm Jasper had around her and beat him with it. Edward understood that Jasper was on their side, but he had brought the Devil into their lives. No Edward. You did that. Edward pushed back the reminder and called out again as he ran down the steps. "Bella!" Her head lifted and her chocolate brown eyes focused on the boy in front of her. Edward wasted no time. He grabbed his girl and held her tightly. His heavy breaths puffed her hair as he held onto her. "Oh Bella…" He sighed as her arms came up to return his embrace.
"Edward? What's wrong? You act as if you haven't seen me for months." She asked in a strained voice. He pulled back to look at her. After what had happened in the church, he expected her to be fighting his hold, to be running as fast and as far away from him as she could get. Her returning his embrace delighted and confused him, until he remembered Jasper.
"Edward?" Jasper inquired tentatively. Edward nodded quickly, before burying his head in the sweet scent of the girl in his arms.
"I hope you don't mind me bringing Bella out for some air. She was feeling... A little confused."
"Yeah, I'm sorry I ran out like that," Bella added, pulling slightly away only to have Edward tug her back into his arms. "I'm okay. You can let go. I'm not going anywhere," she tried to reassure him, patting his back.
Reluctantly, Edward released her, aware that his clinging would cause questions. "Good. I was worried about you." He cupped her cheeks, gently rubbing the shadows under her eyes.
Bella offered a weak smile and placed her hands on top of his. "I don't know what happened," she explained. "I suddenly felt very confused, and light headed. Maybe a little frightened? I remember you shouting at Father Accardi and the next thing I remember I was out here with Jasper."
Edward and Jasper shared a glance at her explanation.
"It's okay. I was just worried." Edward explained, moving his hands from her face to grasp her fingers.
"Well, shall we head back?" Jasper asked. Bella and Edward both nodded.
"I think I would like for you to sit in the back with me, "Bella said, her eyes pleading with Edward to agree.
"Of course." He agreed climbing in the back with her. Jasper got in the driver's seat and smoothly pulled out of the parking spot, setting them on a course back to Forks.
The car was silent except for the soothing him of the Volvo's engine. Bella stared out the window, while Edward stared at her. His hand never letting go of hers.
They'd been on the road for about 10 minutes when Bella broke her silence. "Edward, why were you fighting with Father Accardi? I can't remember what you said, only that you were so angry." She moved in the seat so she could face him. Her eyes searched for an answer. Edward swallowed and met Jasper's eyes in the rearview mirror. What was he supposed to tell her? He silently asked. Jasper shook his head and moved his eyes from the mirror to the road in front of them. Jasper had done all he could to mitigate the consequences of Bella recognizing the truth of their predicament. He's used every ounce of strength in his body on Bella. Her mind was not easy to persuade. She was stronger than most of the humans he'd come across in Forks.
"Um, well, I…"
"It's because of Tanya, wasn't it? You're angry at God for what happened to her and...the baby." Edward nodded slowly, lowering his eyes, hating to be lying to her.
Bella's hand came up to smooth the frown on his forehead. "Did he explain to you that it wasn't your fault and that you have to let go of the guilt?" Edward sighed as she cuddled into his side and laid her head on his shoulder. The sheer happiness that he felt at the feel of her body next to his was quickly tarnished by the fact that at any moment he could be replaced with the beast he'd allowed into their lives.
"He's right," she assured him, rubbing her cheek against his shoulder. "You have to let it go so we can move forward, together." Bella sighed deeply and snuggled closer into his chest. "You're different. I don't know what it is, but I feel as if the old Edward is back. Is that weird?" She pulled back slightly to look into his bright green eyes that she'd swear have been muted for the past couple of months.
"No. It's not weird." He said calmly, running his fingers through her silky hair as she leaned on him.
"I've missed this version of you." She managed to say before Edward heard her soft snores.
"She's exhausted," Jasper said from the front seat. "She fought valiantly against me." Edward smiled, he was proud of her strength, but he was worried that it would make his job of convincing her that the person she'd been dating for the past three months was actually Satan.
"I think maybe she recognizes a difference." Edward said hopefully.
"Yes, probably." Jasper agreed.
"Is that a good or bad thing?" Edward asked, hugging the sleeping girl tighter."
"Honestly, I don't know. But I have to hope it's a good thing."
"Do we take her back to your house?" Jasper asked as the Forks City Limit sign came into view.
"No," Edward sighed. "He could come back at any time and she's too tired for me to attempt to explain all of this. We should take her home, let her rest."
"I think it might be easier to get to her now. Her mind is jumbled and she's in a weakened state…"
"No!" Edward bit out. "I don't want to do this to her now. She needs to get her strength back. We all do." His eyes met Jasper's in the rearview mirror. Edward looked as worn out as Bella, perhaps even more so. He was afraid that if he attempted to confront her now, Satan would be able to regain control and they'd lose the battle. They needed every advantage they could gain and that meant he needed to be stronger.
"I understand." Jasper said, turning in the direction for the Swan house.
All too soon the small white two-story came into view. Edward hugged his girl as tightly as he could, waking her within his embrace. "You're home." He stated as Bella blinked sleepy eyes.
"Oh, sorry about passing out on you like that. I'm just so tired."
"No problem." Edward replied, pushing a lock of hair behind her ears.
Jasper pulled into the Swan's driveway and looked down at his phone, attempting to give the couple in the back a little privacy to say goodbye. He could only imagine how hard it was for Edward to let her go.
Edward opened his car door and offered his hand to Bella. She slid out of the car and came to an unsteady stance. "Whoa there." Edward teased, pulling her in for a hug.
"I feel as if I could sleep for a week," she declared wearily. "I'm sorry that today didn't go well."
"Today was perfect." Edward replied with a sad smile, as he rubbed her back.
"But we didn't get the journal, and you said-"
"Don't worry about what I said. Let's just get you inside so you can rest." Bella nodded and began walking toward her door.
"Bella," Edward called out.
"Yes," she answered, turning around to face him.
"No matter what happens, always remember that I love you." Bella cocked her head at his strange statement, a smile forming on her weary face.
Forgetting her fatigue, she ran down the stairs and threw herself into his arms.
"Only if you do the same. I love you, Edward Anthony Cullen. Always." Their lips met in a deep kiss. Edward felt as if time stood still as they connected. Every movement of their mouths felt amplified to him. He was kissing his Bella. He was feeling Bella's lips on his own. Edward's heart pounded in time with the blood rushing through his veins as he drank in her presence. His arms tightened, holding her as close as she could possibly get to his overheated body. Bella responded in kind, clutching the hair at the nape of his neck as her lips moved possessively against his. Edward was sure that he should be embarrassed by the grunts and moans they were emitting in front of Jasper, but all thoughts of propriety quickly disappeared as Bella emitted a low growl. All too soon, she pulled away.
"Wow, that was some kiss," she remarked sheepishly, cupping his jaw firmly. "You act as if we haven't kissed in forever. Do you maybe want to come inside for a little while? I could drive you home later." The weariness that had been so prominent on her face moments ago was now replaced with heated lust. Edward wanted to take what she was offering, but knew that he couldn't take the chance that Satan would reappear when he held her in his arms.
"I can't tonight. Besides, you were nearly comatose on the drive back. You need a nap." He teased.
"You're right. Rain check?" she asked, stifling a yawn.
"Go take your nap. I'll see you soon." He promised, placing a kiss on her forehead. Every cell in his body screaming at him to stay with her, wrap her in his arms and not let go.
Bella smiled, and bounded up the stairs, turning to blow him a kiss before disappearing into the dark house.
Edward got back into the car. Jasper remained in the driver's seat, giving Edward a few moments to collect his thoughts. He wanted to question the boy about what had happened in the church after he had ushered Bella out, and was about to do so when Edward spoke up.
"The priest knows." Jasper took a deep breath at Edward's admission.
"Lucifer left him alive?"
"Yes, I don't know if it was his original intent. But I was able to take back control before he could do anything else."
"He's not going to be happy about another loose end."
"I don't care. We need all the help we can get and having a man of God working with us has got to be a point for our side." Jasper nodded in agreement.
"I think he wanted the priest to know. He was practically boasting about his plan. Why would he do that?"
"The fact that he divulged his plan to a man of God, would indicate to me that he feels no one can stop him. When in fact, that man may be the one who can help us the most."
"How?"
"Edward, how much do you know about exorcism?"
Edward's eyes widened in horror. The only reference he had for such a thing was the horror movie, The Exorcist. "Do you think it will come to that?" He asked in a whisper. "I thought that guy in Hell fixed it so I could force him out."
Ba'al avoided Edward's eyes. "He made it so that you were not completely removed, but as to how to get Satan to leave…"
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Edward yelled, banging his fist on the dash of the car. "You and Rose have been acting as if I can remove him. Maybe not easily, but definitely."
Ba'al glanced in the rear-view mirror before slowing down and turning off the main road onto a gravel cutout. He cut the engine and turned to face the livid boy.
"Edward, we-, Astarte and I, we were brought here to secure the path for Satan. Neither of us has the know how or training to …" His explanation was interrupted by the slamming of Edward's door as he angrily got out of his car to pace on the gravel. Ba'al sighed and followed him.
"Fuck! Fuck me! Fuck!" Edward exclaimed, pulling on his hair in frustration while he muttered to himself.
Ba'al leaned against the car as he watched Edward pace. "I'm sorry," he said truthfully as Edward rounded on him with undisguised fury in his glare.
"You're sorry? Great! That in no way helps!" Edward screamed. Ba'al nodded slowly and looked to the gravel at his feet. In reality, he and Astarte had never allowed themselves to think about the endgame. They never thought that Edward would be able maintain control long enough to actually thwart Satan. But the boy had surprised them and now they were as close as they would ever be to ending his game.
Jasper watched Edward pace angrily, kicking pebbles out of his way in his fury.
"I know my apology means little, but know that we are in this with you. For the first time in what feels like a millennia, I have hope. And believe me coming from a soul that has spent multiple lifetimes in Hell, a little hope makes me feel as if we can take on the Devil himself." Edward stopped pacing to shoot a narrow glare at Jasper.
"Perfect because that's exactly who we have to defeat." Edward said sarcastically. Jasper pushed off the car to stand in front of the angry young man. He put his hands on Edward's tense shoulders, forcing the boy to look at him. "I know, but we have God on our side now and we have a secret weapon."
Edward cocked his head to the side, casting Jasper with a questioning look.
"Bella," Jasper declared with a big smile. "Bella loves you. She loves you unconditionally."
"Bella does love me." Edward repeated as his shoulders visibly relaxed. His anger and frustration slid off his face and was replaced with a serene smile as he allowed the realization to sink in.
"And that my friend is how we save the world."
A/N- Translation of the prayer of absolution: "Our Lord Jesus Christ absolve; and by His authority I absolve you from every bond of excommunication (suspension) and interdict, so as much as I can, and your needs require. Thereupon, I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen"
Thank you for reading. You are the reason I keep moving forward. It's been a very long and difficult couple of months for all of us. Knowing that maybe I can give you a few moments to tune out the chaos around us, makes me so happy. I very much appreciate all of your support!
Until next time, stay safe!
~ruinedbyrob
