By: Jumper Prime
For disclaimer see chapter 1
Last time on Guardians of Good: Just when it seemed that Miguel and his new ally, Mordecai Devilslayer, had delivered Charity from Hell, they were stopped short when they discovered that the path to the portal back to Charity's room was blocked by a legion of demons. Charity's strength is about to give out and if she loses consciousness, the fires of Hell will burn her alive, destroying her.
Chapter 2: Provenance
Forget about me Miguel.. Charity said tiredly Save yourself.
Miguel practically shouted Either both of us get out of here or neither of us do. I won't be separated from you! Mordecai was about to suggest that Miguel honor his beloved's dying words when a brown rope ladder fell down to dangle in front of them. What's this?
If I'm not mistaken, Mordecai said, examining the ladder It's a Ladder of Lucifer! If you two can climb it, you can get out of Hell without fighting those demons!
You hear that Charity, we're both getting out of here alive!
Miguel and Charity started to climb the ladder, as Mordecai looked on smiling.
*They're gonna be OK.* he thought
As the 2 lovebirds climbed higher, the bottom of the ladder started to rise. As the knight turned to leave he saw something that made his blood run cold. A massive force of demons was rapidly closing in. He turned to check for alternate escape routes only to find that there were none. The mount with the portal at the top was completely surrounded by enough demons to lay siege to Heaven itself.
Uh oh. was all he could think to say
Mordecai Devilslayer was a brave and skilled warrior, but even were he a hundred times better he would still have no chance of getting through the legion of demons alive. He saw only one way out, the ascending Ladder of Lucifer that Miguel and Charity were escaping on. He jumped up and managed to catch hold of the bottommost rung and held on for dear life, his legs dangling as Miguel and Charity looked down, startled by the sudden jolt in the ladder.
Hope you don't mind me tagging along on your evac! Mordecai called up to them But there's no way I'd be able to get past all those demons below us. Just keep climbing, I'll be OK!
Charity and Miguel continued to climb the ladder as Modecai, with great effort, pulled himself up hand over hand until his feet were resting on the bottom rung. As Charity and Miguel climbed higher, the demons on a nearby ledge started to claw at them, trying to push them off the ladder and back down into Hell. Mordecai pulled a white boomerang out of his belt and threw it upward. Its path curved around as it flew, hitting several of the demons, sending one of them off the ledge and into empty space, before spiraling back around the ladder and returning to Mordecai's outstretched hand. He returned the boomerang to its place on his belt and climbed the ladder as Miguel and Charity continued to do so.
Meanwhile, in Charity's room Kay, Jessica, Simone, Reese, and Father Lonnigan grimly gazed at the fire in Charity's closet and the rope ladder that seemed to stretch into infinity.
I hope that thing works. Kay said If Miguel got trapped in Hell forever, I'd never forgive myself.
You must trust in the Lord, Kay. Father Lonnigan advised He will guide Miguel and Charity back to us.
If they can get to the Ladder of Lucifer, they should be able to get back to us without incident. Reese added
But what if the demons stop them from getting up the ladder? Jessica worried How will we know if they need help?
Simone pointed into the closet It's them! They're climbing up the ladder!
Indeed, Charity and Miguel could now be seen climbing up the rope ladder and, as they passed the threshold, were helped off the ladder to stand on the carpeted floor, Miguel supporting an exhausted Charity.
Those old church documents were right on the money! Reese exclaimed The Ladder of Lucifer worked!
Nice job Reese. Kay said
So tired. Charity gasped
It's OK Charity. Miguel said gently We're safe now, back in your room, you can get as much sleep as you want.
Charity promptly closed her eyes and her body went limp. Miguel held her in his arms and carried the girl over to her bed and carefully set her down on the mattress, her head on the fluffy pillow.
Welcome back Miguel. Father Lonnigan greeted As I hoped, God was with you and you were able to save Charity from the fires of Hell.
Maybe in more ways than one, Father. Miguel responded You see, while I was down there-
There's something else coming up the ladder! Jessica shouted, interrupting Miguel
Oh dear. It may be a demon attempting to steal Charity back to Hell. Father Lonnigan said grimly as he prepared a container of holy water
Maybe. Or maybe the opposite. Miguel said as he turned to peer into the depths of the closet.
It looks like some sort of knight. Simone said in a confused tone Sure doesn't look like a demon should. Indeed, a figure in silver armor was climbing towards the portal.
It's alright. He's a friend. He helped me save Charity.
Who amigo? Reese asked
Said his name was Mordecai Devilslayer. Seemed to know his way around down there. He took down four demons in the time it took me to kill two.
The six watched as Mordecai pulled himself up the ladder and through the portal to place his booted feet on the floor. He looked stunning in his silver armor and white cloak. Father Lonnigan flicked a squirt of holy water at him, which hit his chestplate with no effect, not burning at all as it would on a creature of evil.
Prudent safety precaution. Mordecai said as he pulled a white handkerchief out of a pocket in the lining of his cloak I might have been a demon disguised as me. Fortunately, I'm not. He finished drying the spot on his chestplate and returned the handkerchief to his cloak. I'm Mordecai Devilslayer. Pleased to meet you all.
I understand you aided Miguel in rescuing Charity. Father Lonnigan spoke Though I am curious how you came to be in Hell to help him.
I was doing a recon op when I heard Charity screaming. I followed the scream and ran into Miguel. He can tell you the rest.
Recon op? Kay said in a puzzled voice That sounds like military talk.
Comes with being part of The Army of the Lord, lingo's a lot like conventional military.
The Army of the Lord?
Yup. You don't think the eternal war between good and evil is just subtle influencing of people by each side, do you? There are real battles as well, most right here on Earth, though the public never knows about them. Now, let's get this ladder pulled in so we can close this portal.
You're right. As long as it's open, more demons might come through to attack us. Reese agreed
Those who were awake started pulling the Ladder of Lucifer back through the portal. Meanwhile, Hecuba suddenly appeared, floating outside Charity's window.
I think I'll see what those goody goods are up to. Hecuba said and peered through the window WHAT?! Charity's sleeping on her bed and Miguel's there too!? And who's that new guy, the tin man? Well, if they're going to try closing the portal, that's not gonna happen until Charity's back in Hell. Spirits of Evil stop these mortals, the witch chanted a spell Let their efforts give me a chortle as they find they cannot close the portal!
Inside the room, the Ladder of Lucifer was all the way out of the portal and Father Lonnigan was saying a prayer while splashing holy water on the portal.
Lord, our God who art in heaven, he spoke the words with reverence Hear my prayer. Let this portal of evil be sealed forevermore! The light around the edges of the closet flickered a moment but did not go out. Something is wrong. The portal isn't closing.
A sickening roar was heard from the other side of the portal and a very large, winged silhouette was seen coming closer.
What is that!? Simone screeched
If I don't miss my guess, Mordecai said calmly That's Bezzazulano, the Duke of the area of Hell we were in. And he doesn't sound happy. We gotta get this thing closed fast. Mordecai reached into his cloak and pulled out an Egyptian ankh made of clear crystal. The Crystal Ankh of Ra. I usually reserve it for emergencies, I think this qualifies.
This smacks of the sacrilegious. Father Lonnigan said with doubt in his voice
Christian, Protestant, Hebrew, Pagan, Hindu. They're all just different frequencies for the same transmitter, and the receiver for all of them is the same. Christianity is the #1 religion in the world so sometimes the channels can get a little congested. Egyptian mythos is like a hotline upstairs and we need fast action here. Mordecai held the ank in front of him, as though he were showing it to the creature on the other side. Great god Ra, lord of the sun, let your light fill this ankh that it may banish the darkness. The ankh immediately started to glow with a golden light from within as he chanted. Demon lord Apophis: Make not a word, make not a sound, by my words let you be bound. By those with me you are not feared, by the power of Ra, let the portal to your realm be SEALED!
As Mordecai finished the incantation, the golden light shined out of the ankh onto the portal. Behind his faceplate, unseen by anyone, Modecai's face took on a look of concentration as he channeled power through the ankh and onto the portal. Slowly, the portal began to shrink, but the black shape was getting closer.
Mordecai grunted from effort Something's... propping it open.. Making it hard to close. I.. Think it's whoever opened... it... in the first place.
Kay turned to look out the window and saw what she expected to see: Hecuba floating outside. The witch's face had a look of concentration on it, a battle of wills was taking place between Mordecai and Hecuba.
You won't win Hecuba. Kay whispered to herself, too softly for anyone to hear I'm not sabotaging anything for you this time. This guy obviously knows a lot about fighting evil and he's closing the portal. I've had it with you and your lies. You said you'd get me Miguel and then you tried to kill him. Even if you do have my soul, I'll die before I help you again.
Now some of the contents of Charity's closet could be seen around the edges of the shrinking portal. More and more of Charity's closet became visible as the portal continued to shrink. An angry roar was heard, a hideous, twisted face seen through the closing portal, and then it was closed. Nothing was in Charity's closet except clothes and shoes. Modecai was breathing hard and the ankh no longer glowed.
That was too close. he rasped If the portal hadn't closed right then, the ankh would have run out of power and whoever was holding it open would have been able to restore it to its previous dimensions.
What was that thing? Jessica asked
Bezzazulano, up close and personal. If the portal hadn't closed, he probably would have come through, and he's way too powerful for me to have been able to survive a fight with him without backup.
Mordecai's breathing had quickly returned to normal as he put away the ankh. Even though the portal to Hell was now closed, he still sensed evil. He turned his head to look out the window and he saw her. Invisible to normal people thanks to a spell, but clearly visible to those had magical powers like him, floated a witch with a look of anger on her face.
Excuse me a moment. he said simply then charged towards the window
As he charged the window, Mordecai drew his sword from his sheath and smashed through the window, slamming into a surprised Hecuba on the other side. Before those still inside had a chance to react to the window shattering, Mordecai seemed to disappear and the window reassembled itself, seemingly shattering in reverse.
What was that sound? Father Lonnigan asked, his blindness preventing him from seeing what had occurred.
Mordecai smashed through the window and disappeared, then the window reassembled itself. Reese answered, adjusting his glasses in disbelief.
Bursts of light started flashing across the window, seemingly coming from high in the sky. Some of the flashes were red and others were white. Reese relayed this to the blind priest as well. After a few minutes, the teens came away from the window as Miguel went to check on his sleeping love, who was mumbling something in her slumber. Suddenly, the window shattered again, inward this time, and then reassembled itself, leaving the armored form of Mordecai sprawled on the floor in its wake. His armor was now scratched, scored, and in one place, partially melted and his cloak was torn and singed.
What happened to you? Simone asked the battered warrior as he struggled to his feet
Had a little heart to heart with a witch who was hovering outside the window. he answered I think she was a little low on power but she gave as good as she got before she got away. But not before I managed to grab THIS. He held up a liquid-filled crystal vial dangling from a broken chain. The sight of the vial caused Kay to gasp but no one noticed.
What is it? Jessica was curious
A soul vial. That witch had someone's soul captive, probably using it as an energy source or to control the rightful owner.
What are you going to do with it? Kay questioned
I guess I'll take it back to my workshop and use a divining spell to find the person it belongs to, then return it to them. If you'll excuse me, I gotta get home and get a good long rest, that fight took a lot outta me. Mordecai dug into his backpack and pulled out a crystal shaped like a bird.
What fight? Reese asked All we saw were flashes of light after you disappeared.
What you saw was spillover from our fight, which took place on the astral plane, which we fell into when our energy fields crossed. he turned towards the window and held the crystal in front of him Jewel of light, jewel of right, jewel of flight. the crystal began to glow It is time to flee, take me to my place of safety.
The crystal let out a bright flash of light that blanketed the room, and when it cleared, Mordecai was still there, staggering slightly.
What happened? Did you make a spelling error? Simone chuckled
Very funny. the warrior responded dryly The soul in this vial seems to be very powerful, and it doesn't want to leave. As though there's something or someone here important to it.
Uh, why is the vial glowing now? Miguel asked, slightly worried, and indeed, the liquid in the vial was glowing brightly.
Uh oh. This thing's more powerful than I thought. I think- Just then, the vial developed a crack No, I know the vial's gonna breach. That witch musta been using most of the energy from this soul just keeping it contained.
What'll happen if it breaks loose? Kay was very worried *What if my soul blows itself apart?* she thought *I'll be without a soul for the rest of my life!*
Difficult to say. It's not like physics. There's no iron-clad rule of thumb. If I had a chance to examine the soul in question I could make a prediction, but right now I can't be- The vial shattered in an explosion of light, no one could move for a few seconds, and then the light was gone. he finished with a sigh Well, that's that. Goodbye all.
Modecai again raised the crystal and repeated his incantation. This time, when the bright light dissipated, he was gone. The crisis now apparently over, the group broke up. Simone and Reese returned to their respective homes for some much needed sleep, Father Lonnigan, satisfied he was no longer needed, made his way back to the church, Miguel spent the night in a chair next to Charity's bed, Jessica went downstairs to call her father at the hospital to tell him and her mother that Charity had been found' safe, while Kay went straight to her room.
As Kay walked back to her room, there was a spring in her step that had not been there since before Christmas, when Hecuba took her soul. When she got to the room she shared with Jessica, Kay immediately started pulling off the heavy layers of clothing she had become accustomed to wearing with some haste as she was beginning to sweat profusely, she no longer felt cold as she had when bereft of her soul. As she undressed, Kay's thoughts went over and over the events of just minutes ago, when the vial had shattered.
Kay had been the only one not paralyzed by the light. She had seen every detail of the vial's explosion, how a ball of brilliant light had been inside, and how that ball of light had shot into her chest in an instant, bringing with it a feeling of intense warmth and happiness.
*And why shouldn't it?* she thought with glee *That ball of light was my soul coming back to me. I've finally got my soul back! I hope that Mordecai guy tore Hecuba to shreds.*
As Kay prepared for bed, happy for the first time in months, Hecuba appeared in her cave deep below the ground outside Harmony, looking rather disheveled with her dress torn in several places.
Blasted King Arthur wannabe. the witch cursed Not only did he seal the portal and give me a walloping, he grabbed the vial with that brat's soul in it! I may have needed to devote half the energy that thing gave to keeping it contained, but it still gave more juice than any other soul I ever took. Well, next time I meet that ninny knight I won't be low on energy from casting Charity into Hell, summoning a bunch of demons, and trying to hold a portal open. No, next time I see him, he'll be spam in a can and I'll dance on his grave! the witch drew a ragged breath But that's for tomorrow. Tonight I get some sleep, tomorrow I plan my revenge.
Hecuba retired to her bedchamber and dreamed of ways to get revenge on the knight who had stolen her victory and her prize soul. That night, the town of Harmony slept peacefully. Charity's rest was uninterrupted and not troubled by nightmares as it had been of late, Kay too had pleasant dreams for the first time in quite a while, and, in the hospital, Sam Bennett slept in a chair by the bedside of his wife Grace, a miracle having happened as the heartbeat of their unborn child had stopped, but a few minutes later came back as strong as ever. No test could explain it. Dr. Eve Russell believed it had simply been a short circuit in the fetal heart monitor that caused it to not send a signal to the display for several minutes. No one knew that the return of the baby's heartbeat had come at the exact moment Charity had passed through the portal back to Earth.
The next morning, the sun shined brightly on the town of Harmony, and especially bright on the home of the Bennett family, where the evil witch Hecuba had been, if not defeated, taken down a peg or two. Despite the events of the previous night keeping her and the others up late, Kay Bennett awoke early. Still in her pajamas, she padded down the hall to her cousin Charity's room and opened the door a crack to peek in. Her expression fell as she saw Miguel, asleep in a chair beside the bed containing the sleeping Charity. Kay loved the handsome boy but he only had eyes for her cousin. Softly sighing, Kay eased the door shut and returned to her room.
Back in her room, Kay got dressed and then stood gazing through the window. She let her thoughts drift back to when she and Miguel were younger, when their close friendship had been on the verge of turning into something more.
*But it never will now.* Kay thought glumly *I've got to face the fact that Miguel loves Charity. I need something to take my mind off losing him.*
Her thoughts drifted to an earlier time, when her father had made her take karate lessons. Kay had been ambivalent about learning karate then, but now she found herself slowly but surely performing a simple kata which seemed to calm her troubled thoughts. As Kay was performing the movements, her sister Jessica opened her eyes and yawned.
You're really up early Kay. she said
Oh! Jessica, did I wake you? Kay answered as she stopped her kata Sorry, I was trying to be quiet.
No, it's OK. Jessica threw off the covers and got out of bed When did you get back into karate? I thought you hated it when Dad was making you take lessons?
I did. I was just feeling really down this morning and found myself doing the kata. It did make me feel a little better.
Why would you be down? Charity's safe and sound in her bed, right?
That's the whole problem, Miguel spent the whole night in the chair next to her bed.
I don't get it.
You know how close me and Miguel were before Charity showed up?
Well, we were about to become closer, as in romantically close, but right before that happened, Miguel met Charity and fell head over heels for her.
But I thought you and Reese-
Kay sighed Is delusional as regards my feelings for him. All the things that he's interpreted as expressions of my affection for him, were actually badly aimed seduction attempts meant for Miguel.
You mean you... you.. Jessica broke down in a fit of giggles
What's so funny? Here I am, baring my soul to you, and you're laughing your head off.
I- I'm sorry. It's just... All this time you've been trying to snag Miguel when he and Charity are obviously very much in love with each other? It's like something out of an old movie. And your seduction attempts working on the wrong guy... Jessica broke down laughing
I don't have to take this. I'm gonna go have some cereal, and when you come down you had better not be laughing.
Kay stormed out of the room as her sister continued to laugh. Meanwhile, in an opulently decorated cave deep below ground, Hecuba came out of her bedchamber dressed in a silk robe covered with emeralds.
Nothing like a good night's sleep to rebuild the mystic energies. she commented to herself Maybe some early morning mayhem on Charity'll lift my spirits. Hecuba walked to her mirror and passed her hand over it and her reflection changed to an image of Charity's room with Charity asleep in her bed and Miguel in a chair right next to her. Blast! As long as Miguel and Charity are together their saccharine sweet love acts like a shield that even my awesome power can't breach! Suddenly, the image of Miguel and Charity clouded over and dissolved into dark mist. What the heck? I didn't tell this thing to show me London. The mist cleared to show a hideous, horned face Oh my.
Elsewhere, next door to the Bennet House, Tabitha Lennox and her child-like living doll Timmy were having breakfast. Tabitha was having oatmeal and Timmy was eating Fruit Loops with a generous amount of milk.
Timmy said between bites Why do you think Hecuba never showed up after she disappeared last night?
Well Tim-Tim, Tabitha responded Those lights we saw were spillover from a battle on the astral plane.
Timmy didn't see a plane.
Not an airplane, stuffing for brains, the astral plane! It's a dimension of reality just a step away from the one we live in. People who are teleporting spend an instant on the astral plane before returning to ours. Whoever she was fighting may have destroyed her.
You think it was Timmy's sweet Charity that took her out? Timmy asked with a dreamy tone in his voice
Since I don't know anyone else in Harmony with so much power, I suppose it had to be Charity. But if it was, we've got to keep a very low profile because if Charity was strong enough to destroy Hecuba, then she has to have come into her full powers which means big trouble for us.
As if that wimp could do anything to me! Hecuba snarled as she appeared in Tabitha's kitchen Personally, I think whoever predicted her as being the good side's key player in the big fight between good and evil was dipping too far into the sacramental wine.
Timmy cried out in fear
She's certainly hard enough to kill. Tabitha said calmly I've been trying to take Charity out since I killed her mother, Faith, but something always goes wrong. And if Charity didn't give you a thrashing, who did?
Some King Arthur wannabe. Silver armor, white cloak, sword, had some half-decent magic behind him but I caused a fair bit of damage to his armor and if I hadn't been running on empty he woulda been in several pieces by the time I was done. Ooh! When I get my hands on him there won't be enough left of his body to fill a thimble and his soul will replace the one he stole from me!
You're not talking about Kay's soul, are you?
Yup. Before I ported back to my cave, he grabbed the vial with Kay's soul in it.
Which means you no longer have a hold on her or an easy conduit inside the Bennett house which means it'll be a lot harder to get at Charity.
I got a new angle going, but for it to work, I need a way to get past the Barrier around the church.
Planning to take out Lonnigan on his own turf? You've lost your mind! You know as well as I that creatures of evil, including witches, are greatly weakened while inside a church or other center of faith.
You let me worry about that. Now do you know a way in or not?
You got a Key of Zorzak?
An Urn of Darkness?
Nope, don't got one of those, either.
Well, I suppose there's always a Tac-Nuke spell.
Tac-Nuke spell? Hecuba scratched her head Never heard of it.
I'm not surprised. It's an extremely powerful and dangerous spell. Get it wrong and there'll be nothing left of you but ashes.
But it'll blast through the Barrier protecting the church?
IF you get it right, then yes. A couple of centuries ago, my coven used it to blast into a church where some rather useful magical relics were hidden. Took Zelda two days to build up enough juice for one shot.
Just enough time. Hecuba muttered to herself So you got this thing written down somewhere?
Yes, it's in one of my spellbooks.
So, go get it!
After Timmy and I have finished breakfast.
Timmy whispered to Tabitha Why are you helping Hecuba?
Tabitha whispered back Maybe if we can make ourselves useful to her, she won't kill us.
You know, I could just kill you and look through your shelves myself. Hecuba threatened
Go right ahead, if you want to spend weeks reading every line of every spell in every one of my spellbooks to find the one you're looking for. Tac-Nuke isn't the proper name of the spell, which it is listed under in the spellbook. Some phrase in the language of the Ancients, I forget what it means. Tac-Nuke is just a nickname I came up with during the 50's or 60's because the spell is the magical equivalent of a nuclear bomb.
Fine, fine, just hurry up and eat so you can find me my spell.
Tabitha and Timmy soon finished their breakfast, with Hecuba tapping her foot the whole time, and Tabitha then went to her bookshelves to retrieve the book with the Tac-Nuke spell in it. When she found it and pointed out the page to Hecuba, the witch grabbed the book out of Tabitha's hands and disappeared without even a thank you. As Tabitha and Timmy were left wondering what Hecuba was up to, Sam Bennett was driving his wife Grace home from the hospital.
Sam, why didn't you ever tell me that you used to be in love with Ivy or that Ethan was your son? Grace asked angrily
her husband answered I know it was a mistake not to tell you about my previous relationship with Ivy, it was long before I met you and I thought it would only hurt you to find out, but I did NOT know Ethan was my son. Ethan was born 9 months after I slept with Ivy, and like everyone else I thought that Ethan had been born a month premature. Last year she told me one time that Ethan was my son-
So you DID know!
No, let me finish. I went down to the hospital and had Eve examine Ethan's birth certificate, it said he was born a month premature so I figured what Ivy told me had just been a lame attempt to try to rekindle what had already been soaked with water. Sam sighed Let's forget about Ivy and Ethan and just be happy our son is alive. When that monitor stopped sending a signal, we all thought he was gone.
Sam, it wasn't a malfunctioning heart monitor, evil was attacking me and our son, but good was able to stop it in time.
Look, Grace, you know I don't believe in this sorta stuff. Babies don't just die and come back to life.
That's what makes it a miracle, Sam. Grace sighed Whether you believe in it or not, good and evil do exist.
Oh, I believe good and evil exist, it's just that I know from personal experience that they both come from the actions of human beings, not spirits.
Think what you want Sam, but the revelation about you being Ethan's father unbalanced me at exactly the wrong moment. The way was opened to attack me and I was pushed down the stairs.
Waitasec! Pilar wouldn't-
She didn't, Sam. She was too far away, I was pushed by an evil force, and at the hospital, that force started to attack my mind. If the baby hadn't come back-
It was never gone.
Well, if I'd lost the baby for real, there would've been nothing to stop it from poisoning my mind to destroy my love for you, for the children...
Look, whatever happened, I'm just glad you and the baby are OK. Ivy stayed in a loveless marriage with Julian Crane all these years just to get him back for making their marriage a business transaction between their families. It'd take a hundred of her to equal one of you. Ah, home at last.
Sam pulled the car into the driveway, turned off the engine, got out of the car and quickly ran around to the other side to help his wife out of the vehicle. Husband and wife went into the house to find the teens finishing breakfast. Grace's face lit up as she saw Charity safe and sound. When he was told that Charity had been thrown into Hell and then rescued, he dismissed it and the knight who had helped save her as a mass hallucination. The alleged hallucination was quickly pushed aside as things seemed to return to normal in the Bennett house. After things quieted down a bit, Kay pulled Charity aside and spoke quietly to her.
she said Why didn't you tell them that I helped Hecuba throw you into Hell?
Because it wasn't your fault, the pure-hearted Charity answered Hecuba had your soul captive so she could make you do whatever she wanted.
I still had freewill, the fact that I was able to tell everyone what had happened to you even though Hecuba ordered me not to is proof of that.
And that's why I didn't tell. You were strong enough to break free of her control and tell Miguel where I was, even though she held your soul in her hands. I'm glad you got it back, not having your soul must have been torture.
You have no idea.
Now what are you two talking about here by yourselves? Grace asked as she walked up to her daughter and niece
Kay was just telling me how glad she was that I'm safe. Charity answered
We're all glad you're safe, Charity. Grace smiled as she led Charity and Kay back to the couch.
For the entire day and night, as well as the next day, nothing out of the ordinary happened. Charity and Grace were slightly worried about what Hecuba might be planning, but not a sign was to be found of the witch. After dinner on the second day after Charity's rescue, Kay left the house, heading for the church. She felt a sigh of relief as she passed through the church doors, glad to actually be able to go inside a church again now that her soul had been returned to her. She strode straight to the confessional, feeling the need to unburden her soul after all that she had done.
Bless me Father, for I have sinned. Kay said as she sat down in the dark confessional booth It has been a year since my last confession.
I hope the long period since your last confession is because you have been living a righteous life, my child. Father Lonnigan answered from behind the divider
I'm afraid not. I've recently realized that some things I did were horrible.
If you are referring to what you told me of two nights ago, you have already been forgiven for them.
No Father, I'm not talking about any of that. The things I'm talking about now, I did them long before I had any idea Hecuba even existed. Kay sighed It all started when Charity first came to Harmony. She and Miguel met and he fell head over heels in love with her but I was in love with him too. When her mother was killed, Charity was injured too. While she was in a coma, I brought a walkman and headphones to her in the hospital, along with a tape I said was music that might help bring her out of it, but it really contained a subliminal message designed to make her stay away from Miguel. Kay closed her eyes and took a breath, then continued talking When that didn't work, I came up with a plan to get Charity sent to a mental institution. I figured the premonitions she kept getting would make a great platform to start with. While I was still trying to figure out a way to get my plan off the ground, I didn't do something I should have. We all had gone ice skating and when I saw Charity heading for thin ice, I didn't warn her and she fell through the ice.
Kay's eyes remained closed as she forced herself to remember every detail of her actions. With her eyes closed she could not see the strange white light which started emanating from her chest. Outside the confessional, in the church proper, a young girl in white sat in a pew watching the confessional with a smile on her face. Inside the confessional, Father Lonnigan felt a holy force of a kind he often sensed during confession, though it was more intense than he usually felt it.
*Perhaps it is because she truly feels the full import of her actions and is genuinely repentant.* the blind priest thought to himself
Some time later, Kay continued I found a bird statue lying on the ground outside. It was the same bird statue that had been in Mom's shop for a while and had triggered some premonitions in Charity. I figured I could make my plan go forward, I'd put the statue in Charity's room and let it drive her nuts. And when she was freaking out during a vision after I hid it in her room, I actually smiled! Can you believe I actually SMILED when my plan to drive her nuts was working!?
Be calm, my child. The Lord's capacity for forgiveness is infinite. Farther Lonnigan counseled
But I don't know if I can forgive myself. Maybe you shouldn't have pulled me out of Hell when I got pulled into the portal. Maybe I shoulda just stayed there and taken my punishment!
Don't say things like that. The fact that you are telling me this shows that you realize that what you did was wrong and I can tell that you regret it all now. Is that all you wish to tell me, or is there more?
There's more. So much more. When Charity was admitted to the hospital for observation, I hid the statue in a teddy bear and put it in her room. I also made sure the teddy bear went with her when she was moved to the psych ward. Then there was the ski trip. I knew Charity was only a beginner but I encouraged her to go down a dangerous ski slope while letting her think it was safe. She could've really gotten hurt on that slope but luckily, she wasn't. Next came the prom. I plotted to get the prom held in a site that would cause Charity the most pain. When she had a premonition about how the prom mustn't take place on a boat, I pushed for it to be held on a boat and planned to humiliate Charity at the actual prom. Kay gave a long sigh, the white light disappeared, and she opened her eyes. And that's about it. Come Halloween, the whole gang went to the ruins of the old settlement, Tabitha, Charity, Miguel, and I fell down the mineshaft. I first met Hecuba down there, and days later I sold her my soul. The rest you already know.
Suddenly, a loud explosion blew the doors of the church off their hinges and into the church. The girl in white immediately changed into a ball of light which flew up to the ceiling just before Kay and Father Lonnigan came out of the confessional to see what the noise was. Kay was astonished to see Hecuba, clad in her more traditional witch outfit, striding through the shattered doorway into the church, flanked by a number of monstrous demons.
the witch exclaimed Talk about bang for your buck! That Tac-Nuke spell not only blew a hole in the Barrier big enough to drive a truck through, it blew the doors to pieces for visual effect!
Kay, what is happening? Father Lonnigan asked I sense great evil.
It's Hecuba, Father. Kay answered with fear in her voice She and a bunch of demons just walked INSIDE the church! I thought creatures without souls couldn't come into a church!
Generally we can't, Hecuba said But it's easy when someone, like moi, makes a big ole hole in the Barrier protecting the church in question.
Why have you done this, witch? Father Lonnigan challenged bravely, holding a half-filled container of holy water You know that creatures of evil have little or no power inside a house of God.
Normally, you'd be right, blinky, but tonight the Devil's Constellation is at its zenith. It's the Devil's Night, when those who serve evil are at their most powerful and not even a church is safe from us! Hecuba laughed maniacally I knew there'd be a priest here, but I never dreamed it'd be you, Lonnigan. How nice, I get to kill the priest who fouled up my destruction of Charity and tried to dissolve me with a holy water rainstorm. And Kay, how nice to see you again. Kay's face was pale as Hecuba spoke I'm not going to kill you, no. I've got something better in mind. I'm going to take your soul again and make you my slave, FOREVER! Boys, she addressed the demons with her Tear the priest to shreds and bring Kay to me so I can rip out her soul!
Kay's heart was beating so fast, it felt like it was about to explode in her chest. There in front of her was Hecuba the witch and her demon minions. Not even the church was safe so her only protection was a blind priest with a half empty container of holy water and she doubted Father Lonnigan could protect both of them at once from so many demons, not to mention Hecuba herself.
End of Chapter 2
Whew! This chapter took a bit more work to write than the first one but it was worth it. Please let me know how much it was worth by reviewing the story. With the hit counting permanently disabled, reviews are my only sign that anyone has read my work.