Scourge of Angels: Chapter 4 – A Final Choice of Destination

Chapter 4 – A Final Choice of Destination

Back in the usual high-rise bar restaurant, Thaddeus, Tanith, and I are waiting for the next instructions from our guardian angels. Thaddeus is drinking again, and Tanith is bugging him about it. The two bicker like a couple, which is amusing to watch. Nevertheless, I have to keep my mind on my prayers.

“This is getting you nowhere,” I hear the temptations say.

“You’ll get no glory from this. No power.”

“You’re nothing more than second in command to Thaddeus. He’s still a drunken, horny idiot.”

“He’s not like you, a virtuous, redeemed man.”

“You know better than he does and what must be done.”

Guardian angel?

“I’m here, and trying to sweep up this trash as fast as I can, boss,” my guardian angel jokingly says.

They’ve been bothering me ever since we entered the city, and haven’t stopped, despite all the burning we’ve done.

“The demons have always been like unkillable cockroaches ever since they fell from grace. If only I could spray the world in demon repellent so they’d leave it alone.”

Mind if I ask again if we’re done in this city, yet?

“Sorry, but that’s above my pay grade. I can only tell you what I’ve been told from up above, and they only answer when it’s the right time, so there’s no need to keep asking.”

I know, but I feel like I have to, if not for my sake, but for Thaddeus and Tanith, who both fell to their demons.

“They’ll be fine. If you want a heads up, I can tell you that you’re going to be tested next.”

I already am being tested.

“Not in the way you’re already being tested, smarty. In a different way.”

The silence between Thaddeus and Tanith makes me stop praying and turn to see what made them stop.

“Did you hear that on the TVs? We’re going to get a personal visit from John Elio and L’Obscurité,” Thaddeus says.

“Is that a good or bad thing?” Tanith asks.

“Good, or at least I think it should be. We managed to work together with the Castigators and Compassionate, so I don’t see why we shouldn’t get along with the two men they answer to. Maybe I’ll even get their autographs.”

“They aren’t here to help in the way you think,” my guardian angel says.

I relay what my guardian angel says to Thaddeus and Tanith.

“Huh. Mine is telling me we should finish the fight against the demonic before they arrive. I wonder why,” Thaddeus says.

“Maybe they didn’t hear what their sidekicks said about us on their way here,” Tanith suggests.

“It won’t take those heroes long to get here. I’ll cause a scene here, while you and Tanith finish off the last of the cultists,” I say.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m already a dead man walking, so there’s nothing they can do that I haven’t experienced. I’ll be fine.”

“Okay. Be careful, Terah.”

I nod my head. Thaddeus and Tanith transform and fly away. Transforming myself, I start up a green lightning storm around me and blow up different buildings. Ten or so minutes pass before I sense a presence behind me, and sure enough, it’s John Elio and L’Obscurité. John Elio looks as friendly as always with a red deacon’s shirt, gold cape, blue jeans, and brown boots. His smile is as bright as his blue eyes and blonde hair. Oppositely, L’Obscurité is cloaked in a large black jacket, scarf, and a large hat. His face is barely describable aside from a hole in the center of his forehead, black eyes, and a toothy grin.

“Bishop Terah,” John Elio says. “It’s an honor to finally meet you.”

“Deacon John. The honor is more mine than yours. The same goes to you, L’Obscurité,” I say.

“Thank you,” L’Obscurité says in his dark voice.

“Have you heard from subsidiaries that we’re all fighting on the same side?”

“We have, but it doesn’t look like we are from the looks of Detlef,” L’Obscurité says. “It burns in your supernatural fire, and many of its people from all walks of life are dead.”

“As you’ve heard, we’re merely doing what our guardian angels are telling us to do. Despite what it looks like, the situation is under control.”

“Where are your allies?”

“Finishing the rest of the rabble as we speak.”

Below me, I see dark hands reaching out and demons with my face appearing from the floors and the ceiling. The temptations are getting louder.

“They’re more powerful than you’ll ever be.”

“God has given them what they need to take over the world in His name. You won’t be given the same honor.”

“They’ll be in control of everything.”

“You will control nothing.”

“Your life is in their hands.”

“Nothing you’ve done and will ever do will be as impactful as what they will accomplish.”

“Cease,” L’Obscurité says.

An explosion of bright darkness comes from L’Obscurité that scares away the demons.

“Pfft. Show off,” my guardian angel comments.

“With them gone, we can speak in peace,” L’Obscurité continues. “Your methods are extreme, but if what you’re saying is true, then we can’t complain about them.”

“I was about to say the same thing, especially after what you, John, and the Dominion did to the foreign country of Nexum,” I say.

“It’s actually part of why I have to thank you, and that is why we are extending an offer to you. We want you to be part of the Dominion. We need people for extreme situations.”

“You do?”

“Since there were so many cities in our own country under the control of demons, it’s made John, and I realize the work that needs to be done here.”

“You should already know we have a history of recruiting reformed criminals and villains into our ranks. Why shouldn’t we do the same for a group of extremist vigilantes?” John Elio adds.

“That can’t be all to the offer.

L’Obscurité says, “You’re right. You can’t just destroy four cities without consequence, guardian angel influenced or not. The world needs to see that you get justice for your actions and that you will be under our control. Once your time in our prison is done, you will be free to do as you want.”

Before I can answer, my temptations quickly come back. They say, “This is it.”

“You’ll forever lose control of your life.”

“Use your backup.”

“Take the road you choose, that you want to take.”

“You’ll miss a lot in jail. They won’t ask for your help or advice. You’ll be powerless like you’ve always feared.”

I transform into my normal self so my powers won’t be the tool of my demons.

I bow and say, “I accept.”

Bringing my head back up, I see that L’Obscurité is transforming. Once he finishes, he reveals himself as Timeo Severe, a man with dark eyes and hair, always dressed to impress in one of his expensive suits.

Timeo extends his hand toward me and says, “It’s a deal then. We’re glad that we agreed.”

“I’d shake your hand, but I don’t have arms.”

John shakes one of the loose sleeves I have and says, “Nevertheless, I’m glad that we’ll get to work together.”

“You’ll do a lot more under the Dominion than as an independent. Your prison sentence will go by quicker than you think. Since you know so much about how political, corporate, and criminal business works, we’ll call or visit you for advice,” Timeo adds.

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Thaddeus and Tanith fly in and ask what is going on, and I tell them about our new employers, the terms, and the possibility of our future work.

Looking at Timeo and John, Thaddeus says, “I guess we don’t really have a better choice.”

“The streets of Detlef are clean of demonic and cultist activity, so our job here is done, and I’d rather not live on the run. Will prison at least be comfortable and have good food?” Tanith asks.

“Yes, they will be,” Timeo says.

“Will it have parties?” Thaddeus asks.

“No, not at all. Best I can do is have them bring you a birthday cake on your birthday,” John says.

“Ah. That’s a bit of a dealbreaker, but if Terah thinks it’s a good idea, then I have to agree with him.”

The sound of people running catches our attention just as crowds of people brimming with green electricity leap out of the doors to attack us.

As we transform and defend ourselves with John and Timeo, Thaddeus asks, “Are these people under your control?”

“No! I thought I let go of control of them after I transformed back to normal,” I say.

Truthfully, they were under my control even when I wasn’t transformed, and were a possibly sinful backup plan to use against the Dominion, but that doesn’t matter anymore. I’m assuming the demons took control of them after I let go. John Elio and Timeo Severe fly between the crowds like a blur, knocking everyone out, while we were barely able to knock out a few.

“How many more are in this tower?” Timeo asks in his dark hero voice.

“This place is full of them. We’ll help you take care of them,” I say.

“There’s no need. We got this,” John says with a smile.

Before we can argue or attempt to help, John and Timeo are off. We try to follow them and help, but every floor is already filled with unconscious people, and by the time we fly down to the bottom, it seems like everyone that was under the control of the demons is out cold. These two men are truly the world’s most powerful heroes. With that loose end taken care of, we let ourselves fall into Dominion custody. Due to our “crimes,” we aren’t given a trial, and taken straight to a Dominion rehabilitation facility, with the press only being given a video of us being taken in and a picture of us in our cells to show that we were taken to prison. I’m thankful that we were spared the humiliation of a one-sided trial and the drama that came with it.

On the same day that we are imprisoned, we were given white prison jumpsuits and later told that our sentence would be ten years, with us being able to get out after five if we do “community” service for the Dominion by acting as their heroes, which are acceptable terms in my mind. I’m only allowed to see Thaddeus and Tanith when the prisoners are allowed to eat breakfast, dinner, and during recreation. Besides that, I’m by myself in my cell with my prayers, my guardian angel, and whatever books they have on hand for me to read.

During breakfast one day, Thaddeus, Tanith, and I met together at a table. Thaddeus says, “So, how’s prison treating you two?”

“It reminds me of how the penitent priests and nuns who live in isolation,” I say.

“It’s more peaceful and cleaner than I expected. I’m surprised they allow us to meet like this and live out of isolation like those in the lower levels,” Tanith says.

“That’s because we got on their good side and accepted their offer without fighting them. The only thing I personally dislike about it is that I actually have to relax and not do much. It’s making my nerves tingle.”

“Be at peace for once, Thaddeus,” I say.

“I’ll try. What if our guardian angels want us to leave while we’re here?”

“Given our arrangement, we’ll have to hope we can chalk it up to doing community service, but only if we give them a heads up about it. Otherwise, we’d probably get more years added to our sentence.”

“Great. At least being here is better than being on the run. The food is decent, too.”

“I did hear that the Dominion has better prisons than most nations. It’s why they’ve been able to rehabilitate criminals and villains and make them work for them,” Tanith says.

“Whatever the case is, if we get out of prison in ten years or twenty, I don’t regret a thing we did. Heck, we get to be heroes for the Dominion while we’re here. I’m sure we can buy a sweet hideout once we do enough jobs for them,” Thaddeus says.

“Yeah, and they do have priests on standby to help us with our spiritual problems as well. Even though it’s not the best, I think we’re in the best possible place we can be right now,” Tanith adds.

I agree with my friends and say, “The Council of Punishment will be dormant for now, but when we’re back, we’ll be better than ever.”

Thaddeus and Tanith cheerily agree, and I can’t help but laugh. Who would think that a man who was obsessed with power like me would be at peace in prison and a soldier for someone else’s group? I sure didn’t, so I thank God for humbling me and bringing me to a better place that I never thought I’d want to be in, with people who I now consider close friends, who I wouldn’t have associated with weeks ago.

The End