Nephalim

Chapter 7: Cain

The door to the pit remained unopened. Markus and myself had spent the better part of our time down here trying to bypass the magical ward that protected it. Gunfire had no affect, even silver bullets just ricocheted off it. Fire, next to useless other than illuminating more of the pit. When all else failed, we resorted to coarse language, all to no avail.

Passage of time in the pit seemed to move slower. Though Markus and I had only been in that rotting pit for mere minutes, it felt like an eternity.

"This is your fucking fault," he said.

"My fault? How is this my fault?"

"You couldn't just leave this well enough alone, eh? Had to go to ol' Feratu and ask about his sons."

I walked up to him and said, "You're the one who place that file on my desk!"

He threw his arms out to his side. "And you are the one who took the fucking case, half-breed." He let out a long sigh before continuing: "This is just like the fucking necromancer riots all over again."

I pointed an accusatory finger. "You know damn well I had nothing to do with that! And where were you, huh? When the fucking Citidal demanded my resignation?"

"Whoa, now easy there, bub. You can't pin that shit on me or Foley, we had your back!"

I stormed up to him, his putrid stench filled my nostrils. "Then why was I on the chopping block? No, don't answer that, cause I'll tell you. You, Foley and the entire god damn city can't handle a Nephalim on the force."

Markus looked down in defeat. "Hey now, Cain, it wasn't like that, alright? It was because of the prophecy."

"Oh, right, the prophecy!"

"You're god damn fucking right the prophecy!"

"Oh, the one where I kill my fucking brother, right? Well news flash, genius, I have been an only child for ten thousand fucking years! So tell me, how the fuck do I kill my brother and bring the end of days?"

"That's not the part they were worried about, Cain." I raised my eyebrow at him and folded my arms. He continued: "The Citidal told Foley the full propchey. Even the parts that they don't like to admit."

"Oh and I take that pixie fuck told you?"

"He did," he said closing his eyes, and concentrating, he recited:

"On the eve of when all things must end, the mother of the immortal, born of both above and below, shall perish. Her blood shall be drained and the immortal shall seek vengeance. Thus is the first sign.

"On the eve of vengeance, the immortal shall seek war, and two brothers shall duel, the elder killing the younger.

"On the eve of war, the walkers of skin and the walkers of beasts shall unite under the banner of the immortal.

"On the eve of immortality, death shall ride throughout the world, in the wake of the riders,

"On the eve of death, the Citidal shall fall, and the immortal ascends. Thus ends all things."

I looked at my old friend in shock. Less so at the propchey and more so at the fact that this half wit remembered it all.

After a moment, I spoke, saying, "So, they wanted me gone from the force so I wouldn't be made aware of an infernal or celestial dying?"

Markus nodded. "Yeah, pretty much. They wanted to keep you in the dark, and death of the immortal ones could mean that they were your mother."

"So why bring me this case, huh? If the Citidal was aware of this propchey, why bring this to me?"