The brittle ground cracked in thirst at every step Justin took toward the house. He could see a single light shining from the parlor and knew he'd find her there. The door was ajar as if it had been left open in haste and Justin took the opportunity to slip in unnoticed. The scene that greeted him was not one he had expected.
Iris was kneeling in prayer with tears streaming down her face as Norman stood above her. He was imploring her to come with him and leave Justin behind. Iris was shaking her head no at Norman's pleas and was repeating a prayer in Russian. Justin recognized it as one their mother had taught them as children.
"Please child come with me. It is the only way we can hope to stop him." Norman crouched down to take Iris' face in his hands. He gently wiped away the tears and tilted her head so she was forced to look him in the eyes. "The Justin you love doesn't exist anymore," he continued. "You must leave this house and him if you ever hope to find redemption for your sins. It isn't too late."
Looking into her eyes, Norman could see he was starting to break through the wall she had erected. He watched as she swallowed preparing to speak. Just as her lips parted to answer his plea, Justin stepped into view from the hallway.
"I think that is quite enough."
Iris and Norman both looked up and were shocked at the image that stood in front of them. Justin's face was streaked with the remnants of the blood of his victims and the carnage of the night was evident in dark splotches that decorated his pants. His shirt had been buttoned hastily resulting in two buttons having come undone giving just the smallest glimmer of the tattoo that marked his body. But it wasn't his appearance that shocked Norman and Iris into silence. It was the dead look in his eyes as he glowered at Norman.
Justin stepped forward and crouched down to where Norman still kneeled. "Now, now Norman. Is this any way to repay me for taking such good care of you these past few months?" Justin's lips slowly spread into a mocking grin.
"Imagine my surprise to come into my home and find you trying to sway Iris away from me. I would call that a betrayal wouldn't you Norman? And let me see if I remember what the price of betrayal is according to the Bible. Ah yes, death." Justin spat the last word at Norman for added effect.
Norman studied the man before him. He searched Justin's face for the boy he had raised and found that no such boy still existed. The man before him now was a monster; an instrument of Satan.
Hearing Iris inhale sharply at the mention of the word "death," Justin turned to face his sister. His eyes softened and he reached out to stroke her check lovingly. He bent his mouth to her ear and said in little more than a whisper "I've come for you Irina."
Watching the scene unfold before him, Norman realized this was the time to strike. He took advantage of Justin's attention to Iris to shove him roughly onto the floor. Seizing upon Justin's shock, Norman grabbed onto Justin, placed his palm firmly against Justin's head, and cried, "I command thee, in the name and by power of the real presence of Our Lord, to depart instantly."
Justin began to howl in laughter at Norman's clumsy attempt to destroy him. He threw Norman off him with such a force that it sent the old man flying across the room and into the couch. Getting to his feet, Justin stood and looked over at his former mentor. "You know," said Justin slowly "I never fully realized what a pathetic old man you've become. To kill you now will be a mercy you don't deserve."
Justin felt two familiar hands grasp onto his arm as he started for Norman. "No" was all she said to him but it was enough to stop him in his tracks. He watched as she pulled her self to her feet using his arm as leverage. "No," she repeated. Justin looked down into the face of the woman he loved and found himself powerless to resist her command.
Iris nodded her head slightly in acknowledgement of Justin's acquiescence and looked over at Norman. The tears that had flown so freely just minutes before again rolled down her cheeks. Justin encircled her waist with his arm and started to direct her across the floor to the stairs. Summoning all of his strength, Norman rose to block the doorway.
"I won't allow you to condemn her to hell," he said steadily to Justin. The words had their desired impact as Norman watched Justin flinch. "If you love her, you'll let her leave with me. Free her to find salvation Justin." Norman watched as Justin's face flushed from an unspoken fury.
"She belongs to me" was Justin's only reply. Seeing he would get nowhere with Justin, Norman turned his attention to Iris. "Iris, please come with me. You are not forsaken my child. There is always redemption if you want it."
Justin could feel Iris responding to Norman. He turned to face her blocking her vision of Norman. "Irina listen to me." He cupped her face in his hands. "We will have our temple on the hill but you must have faith in me. We are in this together." Iris shut her eyes as images from the last year played across her mind. Children screaming. Being offered to Tommy Dolan. Kneeling on glass until her knees had come numb. Hearing the headboard pound as Justin poured himself into yet another maid. Rejection. Always rejection. Justin had done this all to her and without remorse. She opened her eyes and gazed at Justin with new clarity.
"I can't be with you anymore."
Justin felt a wave of nausea come sweeping over him as the reality of her words hit him. She wanted to leave and would if he did not stop her. He dropped his hands from her face and searched her eyes for any doubt that he could exploit. Finding none, he sighed.
"You are just confused my dear. This day has been stressful and you don't know what you are saying. You could no sooner live without me as I could live without you." He took her hands in his and smiled. "We will talk about all of this later." Justin bent down and kissed her lightly bringing his hand up to gently stroke her hair.
Witnessing this intimate gesture, Norman saw clearly for the first time the extent of their relationship. "Dear God, you are in love with her." Norman's thoughts were confirmed when he saw Iris dip her head in silent submission.
"Enough! She doubts me because of you. Because of the lies you have told her."
"No son, she doubts you because you've given her no reason not to."
The truth of Norman's words hit Justin deep to his core. All of his self-control faltered at that moment and he slowly removed the sickle from his coat. "Wait outside for me Iris," he commanded never taking his eyes off Norman.
"Justin please don't," she pleaded. He turned to look in her eyes and all Iris saw was blackness. "I don't want you to see this Iris. Step outside. I won't tell you again." Justin said those words so calmly that for a minute Iris felt she might still find a way to spare Norman. This thought was shattered by Justin unbuttoning his shirt to reveal the tattoo that marred his body. "I want this to be the last thing you see on earth." Justin chuckled as he saw Norman close his eyes and begin to pray for Justin's soul. "Pretty words but they'll be of no help to you now." Justin lifted the sickle preparing to bring it down upon the only father he had ever known.
"Justin NO!" Before he had time to register the voice, the sickle plunged down and landed into the chest of the one person Justin could have never killed intentionally. She fell to her knees before him and for a moment he was sure he was having a vision. A tiny circle of blood began to grow larger across her blue dress letting Justin know this was no vision.
He watched in horror as Iris crumbled to the floor to lie at his feet. His mind was telling him to stop the bleeding but his body was frozen. He hadn't seen her move to stand in front of Norman. Hadn't heard her cry out. Justin fell to his knees wailing in anguish "Irina." He could hear her silent screams as they echoed in her mind. Could feel the pain as it seared through her body. He heard her calling to him. "Alexsei please. Help me." He knew the only way to save her would be to stop the bleeding and that would require tearing the sickle from her body. Justin clutched the handle of the sickle firmly and in one motion pulled it from her body. Her cries of torture at his movement were immediate. He bent to cover her body with his own. To try and stop the blood that was coming now faster than he could control. For the first time he was aware of Norman kneeling by his side. Norman had placed both of his hands upon Iris and with tears, streaming down his face was uttering words Justin recognized as last rites given to the dying.
Pools of blood stretched across the wooden floor as Justin pushed Norman's hands away from Iris. She wasn't dying. He would not allow it. He pressed his way into her mind and could feel her letting go. He cried to her, "Don't you dare leave me Irina. Do you hear me? Do not leave me!" but it was to no avail. Her cries subsided and he could feel her slipping away. He watched as the last breathe of life traveled up from her chest. Quickly he bent down to cover her mouth with his own intent on capturing her last breathe. Minutes passed and he finally drew away from her lips. He pressed into her mind and found nothing but silence.