Blood and Beasts

Chapter 62

***Trigger Warning***

***Graphic mutilation***

Tears fell freely from Abraham's eyes. He's beautiful. The words screamed through his mind in joyous exuberance. He was everything Abraham had ever dreamed of, a shining white god, come to cleanse the world and build a utopia upon the bones. Abraham was bleeding, cuts from the explosion had nearly killed him, and he felt very near collapsing, but his soul was leaping within. Abraham bowed his head to the floor at the edge of the pool, ready to sing his praise for the arrival of the True God.

Lucifer was facing away at him, his eyes toward the three captured women, and the crowd of followers beyond. The true Brothers of the inner circle had already collapsed to their hands and knees along with Abraham, but those further out seemed stunned to see such a being. It occurred to Abraham that none of them had ever truly believed this moment would come, maybe never believed that the True God even existed. They said the words and followed the Imperial Cult because it served their interests and made them powerful. But now was their time to relinquish that power.

Lucifer took his first steps, walking across the blood as Christ was said to walk on water. He stepped out onto the stone and looked around calmly over the crowd.

"Rise." His voice was soft yet it echoed across the chamber. Abraham and the other true Brothers stood, and waited at attention for their next command. "Praise me."

"All hail the True God!" Every voice in the sanctum rang out dutifully, all except the three still held on their knees at gunpoint. Lucifer turned slowly around the whole room, his eyes finding those of every person in the room. When the True God finally turned toward him, Abraham's heart leapt in his chest. Looking right at him, Abraham was surprised to see how human his eyes were. They were a simple grey; the eyes of Daniel, he realized, the man that had turned into the werewolf. Abraham saw hints of all the sacrifices in Lucifer's body, truly formed from them. He stood equally tall as John Delaney, and his face had the gentle shape of Elias. Yet he was far grander than any of them. Abraham yearned to watch his every move.

The devil passed his eyes further along and they landed on one of the Brothers just outside the ring of loyal guards. Lucifer's feet glided him over, without a sound being made, until he stood looking down on Benjamin Talbot. Talbot stood beside his wife and two sons beside her, his brother and sister and their families further down from them. Abraham was curious why Talbot was the first to be approached by the True God, and was eager to see what his intent was.

"Benjamin Talbot," Lucifer spoke softly. Talbot seemed to quiver slightly in such a presence.

"Yes, my Lord."

"Do you swear your loyalty to me?"

"Yes, whatever you may command of me."

"Good child" Lucifer said, a smirk dancing on his face. "And do you possess a dagger on you."

"Yes, Lord," Talbot wheezed as he scrambled to draw the blade.

"Good. I wish to see your loyalty. Slit your own throat to prove your devotion." Talbot stuttered, his family around him seeming to draw breath in unison.

"But...my Lord...how can I serve you if I'm..." he left the question dangling.

Lucifer seemed to grow a head taller as he glared down at Talbot. "You question my will?"

Cowering, Talbot spoke very slowly, very carefully. "No, Lord...I only meant...please...there must be some other task you would ask of me to prove my loyalty."