Having worshipped at God's feet for the best part of twenty-five years, Father Hendrie should know better - nightmares are only a fabrication of an over-active imagination. But the dreams which haunt him are terrifyingly vivid and all are somehow li...
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Slumped in his armchair, Father Hendrie sat staring at the TV with its incredible images playing from all over the planet. Unaware of pretty much anything else around him, his housecoat was now as dishevelled as his faith. "This cannot be! I'm dreaming," he mumbled.
Jamie, the gardener-come-Fallen warrior, grabbed the priest's arm, pulling him upright. "I would ask your forgiveness, Father, but somehow, I doubt you are capable of even knowing how."
Bill blinked, wounded by Jamie's words.
The gardener turned to Lisa. "Make sure she doesn't wake up." He nodded over to Janet.
Within three strides, Lisa transformed into Inanna. Bill watched transfixed as the tall, exquisitely athletic beauty knelt beside the unconscious housekeeper. From an elaborate trinket on Inanna's left wrist, an electric blue effervescent swirl reached up to meet her waiting fingers. Painting with her fingertips, she then applied it to Janet's forehead, leaving a strange sigil glowing on her brow.
"You cannot leave her like that!" Bill protested. "When she wakes, she will..."
"She won't waken," Inanna said candidly, moving across to where Jamie and Bill stood.
"Wh - what?" Panic flared in the priest's eyes as they flitted between Janet and the striking woman in front of him. His mind was besieged by both fear and inexplicable wonder at the same time. "You killed her?"
Inanna laughed. "No! She is merely sleeping. But she will not wake until I remove the cypher."
Jamie yanked the priest forward, heading to the stairs, and just like his accomplice, he transformed as he moved.
Dwarfed by the towering creature, Bill recoiled, horrified as he saw what Marduk looked like up close and personal.
The warrior turned, sharp, and stared at the befuddled priest. "You asked about the mirror. It is a portal where you can finally meet your 'God'. Perhaps that was why you were so drawn to it. Your eyes will truly be opened, Father."
"Yes. No! I - I mean wait!" Bill stammered, tripping over his own feet as Marduk dragged him up the stairs.
The warrior scoffed, impatience emblazoned within his obsidian eyes. "Are you telling me you fear to meet your Maker?"
Running his fingers nervously through his hair, Bill considered the question. Of course he was afraid! Terrified. But, what did he fear most? That Man's understanding of God, Angels and Demons was ludicrously misinterpreted? That the path he'd chosen to follow all these years was nothing but a lie? Or did the prospect of meeting more creatures like Marduk and Inanna fill him with dread?
After what seemed an eternity of contemplation, he took a deep breath and looked squarely at the two individuals in front of him. "No, I do not." Then, gathering the last of his composure, he pointed to his housekeeper. "We will take Janet with us."
