WAKE UP DEAD (Chapter Two: Dawn)

Breeze broke the night into ruckus. The grass beneath me shivered in fright as the earth vibrated in severed rhythms.
A wild howl and crash tumbled through the chill, then suddenly.................

Silence

WINDOW EXPLODED INTO SHARDS

Fire and smoke poured out of the wide wounded hole in unintelligent pieces. I covered my eyes from the fiery flash of the blast and struggled for vision. Another wild howl, this one in torn screams, close to the mow of a cow, an angered one. The contrast in the colors of noise disturbed me. If this continued, the neighborhood would be thrown into panic. Hungry media wanted something juicy to feed off, and the commotion people would throw around if they found out the current plight of the church building would dump secrets into light. If that happened, the society would hold me responsible. I wanted not pain of reprove.
I felt beads of sweat crawling on my forehead, even though I was covered magically in melted steel, my trump supernatural form. This chaos had to end now, or we would know the pain of August blade. Magnus' unit had not arrived. I needed the support of his force to take on Bunmi alone. Now that the five gods of pain have been painted into the picture, it would be a death wish to go in alone, unequipped. I gritted my teeth in fury. Pressure was stretching my nerves, testing my patience. I processed too many action options in seconds and finally, one stuck. I sighed.

This is madness.

"Truth shift: Illusion"

I threw out a palm at the partly burnt church after I spoke the words of power. Something burst forth like liquid towards the building. It plastered itself against the building, enveloping it. For a moment, it seemed like the building shape shifted. I stretched out my second palm.

"Truth shift: Total conceal"

The earth beneath the building cracked, shifted, vibrated, then the building scattered in static. I clasped my palms together and in a quick flash of lightning the building disappeared, and was immediately exchanged for a healthy replicate. I put my hands to my side, panting slowly. I had spent too much spiritual energy to protect secrets from leaking out tonight. If I exhausted any more on stealth I wouldn't be strong enough to meet Bunmi in metaphysical combat, even though I was better than him.

"Pushing the limits again aren't we?"
I turned around sharply, and fell into a battle stance. I was so worked up I did not recognize the familiar roughness in the voice.

"This is the last time! Never keep a mission waiting even if you're not prepared!"
"I had to watch the fall of the stars tonight" Magnus said coolly in defense, his six man unit behind him, all in silver cloaks, all holding chains as old and rust as the beginning of the world.

"We have zero time for whatever lecture you have for me Clarence. Take us there"
"Even chickens keep to time, and you brag about being on the top of the food chain" I steamed. "Next time you keep me this late, you will lose every benefit you worked for."

We had no time, so I refused to threaten Magnus further. He was here, and that was the most valuable tool I had now.
I drew a quick circle and triangle in the night air with my left finger tip.

"Open Heaven: Gate to Light"

A burning oval, wide and tall, appeared before us in enslaved shrieks and hiss. I looked hard at Magnus. He held my gaze, and then looked away.
"I know" he said in a near whisper
"You will hear me when we return" I fumed and walked into the portal, still vexed, hoping Magnus dies from my unspoken verbal persecution.

The glassy beings jumped into another craze, rushing towards Bunmi in scattered leaps. Father April held off two of the bulky eight feet spirit creatures with several bible verses. He read the scriptures profusely in intense passion, and an invisible shield protected him from their violent persistence. The spirit beasts' hunger for havoc choked the half shattered room, throwing despair everywhere their metal screams reached. A sudden chill ran down Father April's spine. A flash of his past and future bent his vision, and he almost let his guard down. This was the magic from the spirit god of regret. He must not be shaken. He rooted his foot to the ground, one hand stretched out, the other hand choking the life out of his bible in a tight grip. He prepared to read something but was thrown off balance by a jerk of air. Another punch from one of the transparent beasts and the air protecting Father April from their thirst for death cracked. Father April knew a following blow would destroy his magical defense.

"Psalms Seven Ten: Protect me Lord!"

The shattered air squeezed and exploded, throwing the beings back.

"Psalms Seven One: Protect me Lord!"

Another wall of air shields him.

"Psalms Seven Thirteen: Divine Annihilation!"

A blast of light. Fiery wings. Burning Amour. A bow of light. A sword of glass and fire.  Halo.

"The Fourth Angel of God: Attack!"

The angel roared and dashed forward, slashing his sword at the spirits, causing sparks of fire in the wake of every attack.

Father April held himself firmly on the ground, breathing heavily, the sudden vision he had still fresh in his mind. "I shall not fall tonight" he told himself.
"I shall not"

I have heard so much about Father April's ability to summon dead angels in spiritual combat, but this was the first time I had seen one. The aura that followed its appearance was intoxicating, carrying hope, and peace with it. But there was a twisted blackness to it. Though the presence of the mighty being was supercharged with essence and purity, unrest came with it. A bad feeling sat heavy within me, and my insides felt like a crashing plane. There was unease about the supposed divine creature. This was a dead angel, probably one that fell in battle against the forces of God. Summoning a divine being that could turn its back on its human master was dangerous. Something was wrong. Was Father April that desperate to survive? Was he afraid? Though I held off the three spirits that attacked me easily with an invisible shield, I was worried too, because my defense was slowly falling. My Sango wand had suddenly refused to answer my commands after the dead angel appeared. It only emitted sparks at the tip, and the cowries embedding the wood heated up quickly, threatening to burn my grasp on it.

The commotion and violent yells mixed with momentary blasts of breeze and breaking wall and glass wouldn't let me conjure the proper amount of peace of mind I needed for astral projection. If I could astral project and assume my supernatural body I wouldn't need my Sango wand to end this madness.

"Withdraw your angel" I shouted to Father April through the thickness of the noise of the spiritual battle.
"I can't!" He shouted back. "The demons you summoned remain stubborn!"

"They are not......." the ceiling exploded into splinters of wood and stone and crashed down through the spirits battling, cutting my words short. Cloaked figures fell through, and as fast as light they threw rust chains at the warring spirits. There were long screams, the enraged roar of Father April's pawn, and silence. Everywhere fell black. It was over. None of them had a chance against the chains of e'thmier.

I was not surprised by this revelation, but Father April was way beyond disbelief. I expected the shock on his face, but I didn't expect it to be extremely exaggerated. His strongest weapon had fallen quickly into oblivion. All that power, all that energy, destroyed in one simultaneous material attack. So did the five gods of pain. Everything had progressed from bad to worse. Our plan had failed.

A clap diverted my attention from the remnants of chaos before me. A figure walked into view. Grey flowing liquid.

"For an old dog, you held quite an impressive show tonight" Clarence said heartily.
"It's good to know you remember how I burnt you with oil last time you tried to kill me. I see you have your steel skin on" I replied, a sly smile dancing on my sweat covered face as I replayed the horrible sight in my head.
Clarence frowned. His liquid face was expressionless but I felt it.
"I am not ashamed to say prevention is better than cure. I admit you're a pain, and I admit I took precautions for right now" his tone was sharp with malice.
I still smiled, and I knew it vexed him to see me this comfortable.
"How did you find me?"
He stopped, surveyed the room lying in shambles, thought for a second, and turned his back to me. He whispered orders to the suppressors and turned again to face me. Two suppressors advanced menacingly towards a weak spirited Father April.
"Every suppressor teaching you had" Clarence began, taking a careful step towards me, the remaining suppressors following him cautiously, and “…..gone with the wind. The Fates gave you everything. They gave you secrets no one could have....","....no Clarence. They gave me secrets everyone should have. How did you find me?"

His tone hardened.

"The same way you found your last mark. The desire to kill the one man who destroyed your family"
I laughed a heartfelt one, almost wiping a tear out my eye. Clarence was stupid.
"You've always been confused Clarence. We both know I was not responsible for our father's death. You either have a personal reason why you want me dead or you're been used, brother"
I felt Clarence burn his eyes through me in spite.
"I am not your brother. I gave up our bond after you turned against us"
"Really? That's interesting. So, do you still speak your spells out loud?"
"I do. It is called faith"
"Okay. That's good to know"

A noise distracted me. Father April had been knocked to the ground and the two oppressors who had closed in on him were snapping his head sideways many times with jaw cracking blows. Kicks, jabs and everything fell on him as they beat cold into his old body. The blows did not stop, until several cracks, and a spurt of blood.

"Won't you beg for him?" Clarence asked mockingly. I shook my head.
"I advice you kill him now. He has too much fire power with bible verses" I answered unfeelingly.
"I am not surprised. You turn your back on everyone you work with. First Claw of Fire: Death"
Fire circled his palm and suddenly burst forth. I had anticipated his trademark move. Clarence was still as predictable as I left him.

I pointed my Sango wand at the incoming claw of flame. It felt warm in my grasp. Control had returned. The raging flame burst into water, spraying everywhere in torrents. I turned the Sango wand.

"Macabees Seven: Cover me Apocryphal"

The room vibrated from an explosion of fog thick as clouds. As I snatched Father April from his captures, the fading words I could make out from an angered Clarence was ".....even God won't save you from me this time!"

I chuckled. My little brother was still as stupid as I left him eight years ago.

I fell through time, dreams, visions and broken emotions. I felt blood crawling through my fingers. Father April was growing cold. Finally we tumbled on wet grass and dirt. The smell of night blessed our clogged lungs with salvation. Father April dragged himself over wet brown and green. He could hardly lift his weight off the earth. His breathing was heavy, harsh, pained, and dangerously slow. He needed serious medical attention. He tried to push words out of his bleeding mouth, but I stopped him.
"I know you didn't pay me for any other thing apart from tonight's failed summoning, but let me try to get you help. You need your doctor."
His eyes rolled and he squirmed in pain.
"No" he coughed and continued gasping for air and strength. I felt nothing. My plan had failed, his time was up. His greed and con had been repaid tonight. Karma had passed judgment.

I laid him properly on the grass. His eyes were swollen from the blows he received. His lip still bled freely. He had shrunk, and looked a sorry sight.
I watched him as his breathing slowed, not knowing what to tell him before he passed away. He coughed hard, spurting saliva and blood as he did. He suddenly held my black jacket with an iron grip and pulled me down to himself. His eyes were bright, and sharp. "Help Sola" he said, and his grip slipped. His arm fell to his side, and I felt his breath leave him in peace. I wanted to ask questions, but he was gone. Who is sola? How would he pay me for a job I knew nothing about now that he is dead?

I made the sign of the cross, and closed his eyes.

I exhaled.

I had way too much mess to clean up.

                      Written by: Jehiel III Omoruyi.