Alan Price and the Colossus of Rhodes

Chapters 29 and 30

Chapter 29

 “And you left him alive?” Her voice was smooth. She had a way of talking that was silky to the ears while still intimidating anything that lived. It was one of her many traits Dominic admired.

Dominic Drencher rocked back and forth in his new slippers, heel to toes. “Yes, as was instructed.”

“Good.”

The room was dark, too dark for Dominic to see more than a figure hugged in shadows. She sat in a tall chair covered in darkness at the far side of the room. “What shall I do next? We have more than enough followers. Alan Price is nowhere near able to compete with me, much less our superior numbers. Maybe, I should have killed him altogether and just ended the possibility of his future meddling.” Dominic paused thinking about his brief interaction with the young man. “He didn’t even appreciate my cooking. Everyone likes my cooking.”

The woman spoke, not amused with Dominic’s ramblings. “No, let him train and prepare. I know Michael well. He needs somewhere to direct his attention. I will allow him to have his pet. I need you on something else.”

Dominic smiled ear to ear. “Oh, does someone else need killing?”

“No, not this time.”

“Oh,” Dominic could hear the disappointment in his own voice. “Killing is my absolute favorite. What then?”

“Dominic, are you aware of our heritage? Of how the Fallen were first condemned to earth?”

Dominic was aware that she already knew the answer to her own question. Of course he knew, she had told him herself many times before. He hated when she did that but he had no choice but to humor her anyway. “Yes. After the war in Heaven the Fallen were cast out to await their punishment on earth. The Fallen and the Angels came to an accord to abstain from physical confrontation. And that’s why you have people like me to do your bidding.”

Dominic’s tone took on an air of disdain. He couldn’t help but feel a lip rise in disgust. “And that is why Michael has people like Danielle Turner and Alan Price.”

“Very good, Dominic. You are correct. My Fallen brothers and sisters are unwilling to engage the Angels. Not only do they have superior numbers but also the strength they possess is hard for even us to rival. However, what if I were to tell you that I’ve discovered something to tip those scales? Something to even the odds that have been so unfairly stacked against us.”

Dominic licked his lips. He squinted trying to cut through the darkness. “What is it? What have you found?”

“Weapons, Dominic. After the great fight in Heaven, all the celestial weapons were ordered to be destroyed to ensure nothing like that could ever happen again. The knowledge of celestial weapon-making has been lost for millennia, until now.”

Dominic dared to shuffle his slippered feet forward just a few inches. He had to see her; just a glimpse would be enough.

She continued with a sure voice that practically corrupted men with its sound. “A book may be in the possession of a mortal, a book that I have spent my entire earthly life tracking down. We need that book, Dominic.”

He would do as she asked, more for his own amusement and the opportunity to kill again than anything else. He took another step forward. “Whatever you command. You will have your book. You will have your weapons. Heaven and earth will belong to you.”

Chapter 30